Ogbeta situation becomes clearer at Swansea City ‘He doesn’t fit’
Sunday, 31st Jul 2022 11:54 by Keith Haynes

Russell Martin has given some more insight as to the exclusion of Nathanael Ogbeta from his squad and his transfer to Swansea City. For the first time Martin has opened up a bit more on the late signing from Shrewsbury Town and his position on those business dealings by the swans.

Speaking post match yesterday Martin was very clear on Nathanael Ogbeta and what he has do to get back in to the Swansea City squad. The swans boss reflected on Ogbeta’s position and how he can get playing time at Swansea. “ He’s the same as every player in the squad really” Martin then named players ahead of him Manning, Latibeaudiere and Sorinola. “Unfortunately it’s football and we can only have sixteen outfield players in the squad on a match day, and he’s not one of them” It seems strange to us though that if that is the case he isn’t featuring in the under 21 side either. A tricky question not asked but Martin did expand on Ogbeta. “ I don’t see that there’s anything more to it than that, I’ve been on to him he knows why he isn’t in the squad. It’s up to him he understands it’s up to him to become a part of the squad at some point and show us he can help us. Or, to assess his situation and see what opportunities lie elsewhere.”

Oddly then Martin talked about Ryan Bennett. “Ryan knows where he stands, he’s not the model of the club, he doesn’t fit, so he’s not here. The same as Nat Ogbeta, everyone accepts that. With Nat maybe because we bought him in January, I don’t like doing business late on in the transfer window, especially on deadline day as we did so he signed late, he couldn’t have a medical, he was injured so I haven’t been able to find a place for him” Thats clearly a swipe at the now departed Sporting Director Mark Allen who was the driver behind this deal, and Martin is not happy. “The guys here are treated with honesty and respect, and that’s the most important bit”

It’s very obvious to us with those comments that Russell Martin didn’t agree with Mark Allen taking over the deadline day signing of Ogbeta, and that he didn’t want him to be signed. The result there was the departure of Allen who was also influential in the Finley Burns loan from Manchester City. It’s a great shame for Ogbeta, but when you look a bit deeper in to yesterdays comments there are some similarities to those he made last season, especially on Michael Obafemi. Michael came good, well maybe Ogbeta will as well, but once again we have another player on the salary sheet who isn’t getting a game and is offering little if anything to Swansea City. With Ryan Bennett also more out of favour than Jay Fulton was last season there’s still work to be done for a group of players to leave Swansea City.