We have seen some real ups and downs this season under the guidance of Russell Martin. The lows though are in the ascendency yet again. My question today is “ Can Russell Martin really bring success to Swansea City” ? Or is he going to be sent out to pasture before he gets a chance to do so ?

The idea is perfect, pass the ball about and score goals. That’s the basic ethic here. This season it has worked on numerous occasions, I can refer to Peterborough United and Cardiff at home and West Bromwich Albion too. Away, possibly Coventry and Barnsley stand out. And now I am struggling. Yes, we have seen some really good football, and chance after chance not being taken, and thats bloody annoying to say the least. Then there’s the defeats, and they have been so demoralising.

When Russell Martin comes up against the better managers in the Championship, like Scott Parker and Steve Cooper, the swans do seem to get found out. Michael O’Neill did just that last night, and it shouldn’t go unnoticed the swans have shipped six goals in two games this season against the potters. That’s a manager who has worked the Swansea City system out, and plays to it perfectly. O’Neill did promise us problems, and my word did he give Swansea some in last nights game. Every time Swansea City got the ball it was well recovered by the potters. When the swans did retain possession we saw poorly thought out passes, or possibly a lack of intent or belief ?

These stats don’t lie on this occasion, and the swans possession is again, not unlike on Saturday ‘not‘ a dominant theme.

I suppose some people will be happy we aren’t passing teams to death, but when we don’t the pressure invited upon the defence is very noticeable. Plus, and this has become an increasingly obvious issue, when the swans do overpass it leaves them more open to losing the ball. Put that up against a manager who knows his stuff, and has a well worked out plan and Martinball I’m afraid falls apart. It’s not though an issue of ‘ Oh well that’s that then’ Russell Martin needs to develop what he has, and combat these pretty alarming slip ups.

The question there is also not hard to answer. Quite simply some of his players aren’t good enough to play this system. And when it does pay off in may be one in five matches It just re-emphasises to Martin he’s on the right track. And he is, but without the personnel. Hence the poor return in results. That’s why he really does need the summer to get things right. The issue there is, and I can find many, trust me, is that once that faith in him expires where does that leave Swansea City if next season’s the plan doesn’t work ?

The real quandary at this moment in time isn’t the poor results, or the odd decent win, it’s more about ‘can’ this whole project succeed under Russell Martin ? Is the Martinball revolution something that will bring success to the club ? As it stands and with what we have I just can’t see it, I know Russell can, but I can’t. In his defence you could say that over the summer he may get some more pliable players in to fit the system, but this is Swansea not Manchester.

The money isn’t there for what he wants. He is going to have to speculate on players like Nathanael Ogbeta, hope they can see his system for what it is and pile on in to next season with a degree of hope. I’ve no doubt it will get better, but will it be good enough ?

He has actually had over half a season to fix the wing back situation and that’s a glaring issue. His system clearly relies upon full backs like Ethan Laird or Connor Roberts. These are players capable of fitting in to the system. In Cyrus Christie and currently whoever fits in on the left we have square pegs in round holes. Christie does have some experience but before he came to SA1 he had played one game all season. He will just about be up to speed when the season ends. Has that not been the story of the season though ? Shoe horning players in to places they don’t normally go ? That’s the problem. Russell Martin is pushing the boundaries with players under the ethos of ‘ You are a professional you should be able to play anywhere’

Is this working at Swansea at the moment ? Clearly not, and it won’t as long as players are played out of position in key areas, and yes the areas where he needs the system to function. Can it work in the future ? Well, yes, Manchester City are a great example. But as we’ve covered this isn’t Manchester. The Swansea fan base has to have faith as much as the
ownership do. They have already backed him with a fair few million pounds spent. Unfortunately to alleviate the financial pressure of that expenditure the squad has been weakened.

Catch 22 then.

These are very new times for Swansea City, they have put so much faith in to Russell Martin they have to back him in to next season, and that will happen. Unless of course a complete disaster like the game at Stoke occurs game after game. Then who knows ? It’s highly unlikely that scenario will happen, we have seen enough already for a mid table finish. And this again re-emphasises the fact we have to continue as we have done this season. Of course the question in today’s column isn’t about that. It’s about Martinball and how will it work, or can it work at this level ? For some the jury is out, and others have him convicted already, which really does make what we have seen and been through this season a complete waste of time.

We have to believe Martinball will work, and we have to hope under his guidance it will. I can’t criticise his commitment nor can it be said he doesn’t know what he is doing, because he does. But to gather around him sufficient to players to implement it and be successful, now that’s the real crux of the matter. He has lots to overcome and much more besides. He has the financial constraints, the ability of players to actually ‘grasp’ what he wants and then of course for them to buy in to his unique style of training.

Russell Martin has many hurdles ahead of him, the odds were always going to be stacked against him, but that feeling I have that he may just do it won’t leave me. We are in a unique situation with a manager who is devoted to his craft and loves being at the club. That may not be enough for his plans to succeed, but it is enough to buy him the time he needs to at least give it a go.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

Bluswan added 15:34 - Feb 9 Since the summer of 2016 the American owners have taken a PL team down to the lower reaches of the Championship. During that time they have ‘been through’ no less than 9 managers from Francis Guidolin to today’s incumbent Russell Martin. This fans forum were massive supporters of Russell Martin but also equally massive detractors of Steve Cooper. Today Cooper is doing well away from Swansea at Forest, his predecessor Graham Potter doing exceptionally well away from Swansea at Brighton but here in Swansea Martin is seen to be failing. The common denominator: These Americans owners. 5.5yrs and 9managers littered with really bad judgements over player sales and buys, a club which apparently has no money, reduction in academy status and it is clear to most of us, absolutely no ambition save to pay their investors And you now blame Martin and praise the Americans for their investment?

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