| Oh for the "Swansea Way".... 14:00 - Nov 6 with 5499 views | swansvalleyjack |
After watching (correction - enduring) that awful match on Saturday, I couldn’t believe how far we’ve plummeted since the “Swansea Way” of Martinez- Rodgers-Laudrup (with a bit of Sousa thrown in).
It got me reminiscing (over a few commiseration drinks ! ) of what was the “Swansea Way” (especially in the Premier league) - and where has it gone. Btw, this post turned out longer than I planned, so opt out now if you want :)
Started by Martinez, it developed into crisp accurate incisive passing all over the pitch, lots of triangles, players always looking to move into space; decent defenders who were comfortable on the ball; playing out from the back with solid hold up play - bringing midfielders, wingers & full backs into attack; then finished off more often by the likes of Graham, Michu & Bony ; plus a patient acceptance from fans that even passing around the back would soon build up to something exciting and positive. And of course the legend Leon - the glue holding it all together. Plus stalwarts like Tate, Rangel , Dyer and Williams (even Monk in fairness as a player). Anyone want to add anything ?
And of course shrewd transfers — especially at the start of our Premier League adventure under Rodgers & Laudrup — with everyone buying into our consistent style of play.
In the Rodgers regime , the likes of Sinclair, Borini and Britton had already been signed up in our promotion year. Then in 2011/12 - our Premier league start - Vorm, Graham, Caulker, Sigurdsson & Routledge were in.
In 2012/13, in the Laudrup (and his agent !ïŠ ) regime, in came Flores, Michu, Ki, Hernandez, De Guzman & Bartley.
For me, I especially remember two games where the “Swansea Way” was at its peak. Yes, we also have the wonderful high profile scalps of the likes of United, City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea , plus the League Cup triumph (where have those days gone !! ïŒ ) — but the two games against WBA and Fulham especially stand out.
The 3-0 at Fulham in March 2012 under Rodgers was breathtaking , two Siggy goals and a cracker from Joe. I was privileged to be there - Match of the Day speeded up our fantastic passing display all over the pitch, highlighting loads of zippy triangles. And on leaving the ground, I remember talking to some old-time Fulham fans who said that was the best away performance they had ever seen at the Cottage.
And of course , the win against WBA 3-1 at the Liberty (first half especially) in November 2012 under Laudrup. Two goals for Routledge (he was decent then !) and Michu. But the performance — wow, even Laudrup the master footballer was purring.
There will be other similar games fans will remember eg the 5-0 at QPR. Arsenal away with the Michu goals. The Teams then did not cost many millions (just the right players for our system). Were the transfers influenced by Rogers/Laudrup (& agent) ? — possibly, but it worked. The Laudrup regime also bought in Bony & Shelvey.
So…in 2013/14, with Laudrup losing interest unfortunately (clashes also with Jenkins I guess), we entered the start of the Monk era, going then into 2014/15. The pragmatic, diamond style …the start of the decline of the “Swansea Way”. And coming in - Gomis, Barrow, Emnes, Fernandez, Grimes, Naughton, Cork , Montero, & Carroll/Oliveria (on loan).
And in subsequent years we have the transfers in of the likes of Eder, Tabanou, Paloschi, Baston, Fer, Van de Horn, Narsingh, Ayew (J), Mesa, Clucas, Sanchez. Also Bony ( a Laudrup re-signing — but will he be the same as before ?) Plus issues like keeping Naughton and letting Kingsley go, and not replacing (as near as possible) the likes of Sigurdsson & Llorente.
A string of many terrible (often very expensive) dealings.
Though since 2014/15, some other plusses in (in fairness) — Fabianski, Llorente, Olssen, Kingsley, Abraham,…maybe Mawson , A. Ayew. Plus Sigurdsson of course, but a re-signing from the Rodgers era.
Btw, even in the Rodgers/Laudrup eras, we still had the likes of Lita, Bessone, Mc Eachran, Tiendelli, Schecter, Lamah, Amat, Canas, Gorre, Pozuelo, N’Gog & Vasquez brought in. Whose purchases were they ? But fortunately they were balanced out by more than decent signings elsewhere. Nowadays there is very little in the way of a good balancing act.
But we can’t get away with so many perpetual poor signings, year on year. Nor desperate managerial changes.
How many of those listed above from 2014/15 onwards (non Rodgers/Laudrup eras) would have added quality to these “Swansea Way” teams v WBA & Fulham. Only Fabianski & Llorente for me (Bony as well of course at his peak) :
Against Fulham (btw beating City the week before) it was Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Monk, Taylor, Allen, Britton, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Graham, Sinclair.
Against WBA, it was Tremmel, Rangel, Flores, Williams, Davies, Hernandez (sub de Guzman), Britton, Ki, Dyer, Routledge, Michu.
A golden era indeed. And I wonder if we will ever get back to the “Swansea Way” which brought us so much success and pleasure. Probably not under our current structure …ah well, back to reality in 2017/18 unfortunately.
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| Oh for the "Swansea Way".... on 01:25 - Nov 9 with 1489 views | Wanderer |
Great post by the way "Swansea valley jack"'
The WBA game was probably Routs finest game in a Swans shirt, though he put in a very decent season that year as well. |  | | |
| Oh for the "Swansea Way".... on 08:15 - Nov 9 with 1453 views | 34dfgdf54 |
| Oh for the "Swansea Way".... on 01:25 - Nov 9 by Wanderer |
Great post by the way "Swansea valley jack"'
The WBA game was probably Routs finest game in a Swans shirt, though he put in a very decent season that year as well. |
Ki was immense that day also, completely run the show. |  | | |
| Oh for the "Swansea Way".... on 14:06 - Nov 9 with 1391 views | Flashberryjack |
| Oh for the "Swansea Way".... on 08:15 - Nov 9 by 34dfgdf54 |
Ki was immense that day also, completely run the show. |
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| Oh for the on 14:46 - Nov 9 with 1373 views | karnataka |
And who could forget this one? This wasn't some nomark club from Malta, Estonia, The Faroes or wherever, this was Valencia FFS and we went there and outplayed them for the entire game.
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| Oh for the on 15:20 - Nov 9 with 1350 views | Joe_bradshaw |
| Oh for the on 14:46 - Nov 9 by karnataka |
And who could forget this one? This wasn't some nomark club from Malta, Estonia, The Faroes or wherever, this was Valencia FFS and we went there and outplayed them for the entire game.
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That was in Laudrup' s "completely lost interest" season.
Any decent manager would have overseen six nil at least. |  |
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| Oh for the on 12:15 - Nov 11 with 1246 views | Lord_Bony |
| Oh for the on 14:46 - Nov 9 by karnataka |
And who could forget this one? This wasn't some nomark club from Malta, Estonia, The Faroes or wherever, this was Valencia FFS and we went there and outplayed them for the entire game.
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The last time we really played the Swansea Way imo was under Laudrup...after that Monk tried to take it in a different direction followed by Guidolin and Bob Fickwit.
The only one who keeps its influence these days is Alan Curtis but he doesnt have so much these days as a player loan manager. |  |
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| Oh for the on 12:19 - Nov 11 with 1242 views | Dr_Winston |
| Oh for the on 12:15 - Nov 11 by Lord_Bony |
The last time we really played the Swansea Way imo was under Laudrup...after that Monk tried to take it in a different direction followed by Guidolin and Bob Fickwit.
The only one who keeps its influence these days is Alan Curtis but he doesnt have so much these days as a player loan manager. |
Not sure how much chance Guidolin had to change things back. Firefighting in his first half season and completely undermined during the next. |  |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
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| Oh for the on 12:35 - Nov 11 with 1231 views | Lord_Bony |
| Oh for the on 12:19 - Nov 11 by Dr_Winston |
Not sure how much chance Guidolin had to change things back. Firefighting in his first half season and completely undermined during the next. |
True but he brought in his own assistant manager which further took us away from the swansea way. | |
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