that does not go with the way we have fallen away this season. and where you find some who likes his playing style you will find a lot more others who think he was a flash in the pan.....I would love to see him prove us wrong but he has no chance playing his modified style to what we were in ever keeping us in the premiership
The way we played at the beginning of the season was most definitely ML's way, not BR. We were more direct, the wingers played a more roaming role, and more central....remember Dyer and Sinclair both scoring in striker- like positions? We the hit a bumpy patch as the team got used to the system, but it then clicked late Autumn, heading into Winter. Since the cup win, our form has been poor, but I've seen more of BR style wing play being used, and to no avail. The wingers are playing wider and I think this makes them less effective, as often the final ball is poor. In all honesty, it didn't help us winning the cup and being safe with so many games left. The players switched off and looked like they could care less at times (Ash, Dyer, JDG, Routledge, to name a few). Maybe ML failed to kick them up the arse enough, but I suspect we will see a shake up this summer, and I won't be surprised to see at least 2-3 of the team out of favour. That said, I cannot blame ML, as IMO he has changed our style for the better. We are very hard to beat away and will always give teams a good challenge at home, on form or not. Lets not forget the away wins at Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle, as well as solid performances against the Champions, home and away. We've taken another couple of steps forward this season, and I have no doubt we will make more improvements next year....thus is ML's first summer transfer window in terms of knowing his squad, and what changes should be made, and I can't wait to see who will be joining us over the next couple of months.
What made the second half of the season so good? hmm let me think. More wins than Rodgers had with the swans. A first cup winning trophy in 100years. A number of tactical options created which meant us being able to go away to the likes of Everton and compete(something Rodgers couldn't do) Finishing 9th Not bad for the smallest team in the prem league Dai As for having worries for next season,of course I have, who wouldn't !! bigger teams that have spent more money than us have struggled, we could get a massive injury problem or suspensions to key players. Don't think that there is nothing to worry about, we have a lot on our plate next season but if we improve the squad and this seasons signings keep improving then I think we can look forward to yet another difficult but fruitful season! Remember that the Swans to stay in the premier league is a massive challenge in itself
What made the second half of the season so good? hmm let me think. More wins than Rodgers had with the swans. A first cup winning trophy in 100years. A number of tactical options created which meant us being able to go away to the likes of Everton and compete(something Rodgers couldn't do) Finishing 9th Not bad for the smallest team in the prem league Dai As for having worries for next season,of course I have, who wouldn't !! bigger teams that have spent more money than us have struggled, we could get a massive injury problem or suspensions to key players. Don't think that there is nothing to worry about, we have a lot on our plate next season but if we improve the squad and this seasons signings keep improving then I think we can look forward to yet another difficult but fruitful season! Remember that the Swans to stay in the premier league is a massive challenge in itself
If you are happy then thats all that counts but im a realist and look at the whole season and how we started playing the way we ended the previous season to the way we steadily but surely declined and finished in relegation mode...that is my worry nothing else....I can only go on results and that is why some of us are worried that we will be playing our last season in the premiership if things dont change,,,,nobody wants that..
If Dilli has Dai on ignore then he should, well......ignore him. But he doesn't. Not a 'sly dig'. Just an observation that's shared by others I suspect. Calling another poster's offerings 'bollocks' when you presumably don't know what he said is a bit shabby - oh, and a breach of the rules. As a mod you should know that. No offence. I wouldn't go as far as Dai but he makes some valid points about our terrible form recently. Not 'bollocks', just an opinion.
Dai, was it not you that said we had been found out towards the end of last season? Therefore, ml is/has been exploring other options.
I'm waking up to pm's saying that yet again someone I have on ignore is continuing to have sly little digs at me. So my question to the mods is, do you want to put a stop to it or shall I take him off ignore and deal with him myself ?
Well I disagree with you Ash and it looks like Neveroff would too as he's previously issued a statement for people to stop having sly digs. This person clearly knows what he's doing and knows Never was talking about him because he used the reply with quote function. Oh and it clearly is a sly dig that's all he ever does, the pm's are accurate. I have used the ignore function to avoid any conflict, however this person is itching for a fight and clearly won't stop until I deal with him,
Dilli, no need to get embroiled in an argument, I can see whats going on this and other threads. Plese leave us mods to deal with, thank you.
From a purely statistical perspective there is not a lot of difference between the second half of this season and the second half of last season. We scored 26points last season and 21 this season. However we also played 5 more games in the second half of this season than last. If we broke the 2nd half down further into quarters the last 9 games of the season we only scored 1 point less than last season. The fact that more than a quarter of the starting 11 for most of the season consisted of ML's signings pours water over the argument that the first half of the season we were playing a style consistent with the previous coaching regime. Let us not forget that first team coach, manager, analyst and fitness coach all left which doesn't leave a lot left of the old guard on the training ground. To finish the season with a points tally of only 1 less than last season after playing 20% more games and a trophy has to be seen as an improvement. For a club of our size (budget and support) anything over 40 points should be seen as a success. That is not me having a small time attitude, the reality is we have to over acheive to be a mid table Premiership team. I have enjoyed this season and hold no fear for next season. I dont think we have anything to worry about the teams that are coming up and if all what is coming out of the club is true with regards to new players coming in (numbers not names) then we are definitely going to have a stronger squad. Onwards nad upwards ( although I do feel to finish higher than 9th and more than mid 40 points mark will be a tall order) I will take a nice run in Europe and anywhere between 10 and 15th in the league will be great. Oh and safety in the premiership as early as we can. I would rather finish weakly after already guaranteeing safety than doing a Wigan (up until this seson of course) every season and twice on Sundays. 42 points as early as March would do nicely tyvm
Cracking post that bap @Neveroff, ok no problem will do, glad that at least one mod is keeping an eye on him and I'll happily let you deal with it.
I don't think it was a dig at you, more an observation about the comment you made about dais comment.
In regards to our dip in form in the second half of the season,it was quite clear in the xmas transfer window we needed a top quality striker or 2 so michu could jump back into his midfield role but lets be honest the club knew we were pretty much safe with limited matches left to play so took the risk instead of spending over the top. Like others have said ML knows the team now and where we need to strengthen to improve in his first proper transfer window so im very hopeful of a big improvement in the team next season to maybe cement ourselves as a mid table club. If you think when we signed ML we lost a good defender and attacking midfielder then replaced them with Mich and Chico, we lost Sinclair and got Hernandez. Its going to be interesting to see what happens when he has the time to get in what he thinks we need for his style and the time to ship some players out also.
It's always a dig with him Ash. He knows he's on ignore but won't let it go. Just keep an eye mate you'll soon see what I mean
Good post, Bap Dilli - no offence but you're very sensitive. You have me on ignore so why does anything I say bother you? I was merely making an observation that you shouldn't say that Dai's posts are 'bollocks' - particularly when you don't even know what he's said because you have him on ignore too I understand. If you're ignoring posters I suggest you er... ignore them. In short, calm down and show some respect to others' views, that's all I'm saying. As Chico says, I'm not breaching any rules by pointing this out so I'm a little unclear why you feel the need to 'deal with' me. I have received no warnings or PMs from mods - because I haven't done anything wrong. Chill. Dai raises some valid points even though he's a little extreme in his views imo. If you have issues with me take it to PM as others can do without yet another spat.
If you actually look at it that way, then the the season as a WHOLE has been a major success Dai, finishing in the top 10, winning our first major trophy and about to enter the Europa League. As they say Dai, the league table position at the end of a season doesn't lie, so how about you stop spouting negativity and acknowledge the fantastic achievements made by the board who appointed ML and the players and coaching staff for a frigging change
