Because ignoring the cracks will get us relegated, unlikely this season because of our August results - but, carry on playing as we are and accepting what is near relegation form since September & next season will be disastrous. This season we have ridden our luck (long overdue to be honest but we have). And example, Shevely's goal at Southampton, 9 out of 10 of those efforts his row Z. We got lucky. Monk claimed it was his tactical defensive genius that won the game; it wasn't, it was cramming the penalty area because we didn't have an answer to relieve the pressure and one lucky shot. Monk then declared he'd sorted out the defence and he was going to do a bit of coaching of the forwards. (Who the hell writes his copy???) Next game we are humiliated again. I also think we were lucky only to concede 5 against Chelsea. Thank might make some happy but unless Monk gets help and senior players assist in regaining the training ground the rest of the season could be a difficult time for the fans and the manager. Do you really think anyone who supports the Swans wants to see our team torn apart by any team in the league (Chelsea / Liverpool/ West Ham) & humbled by sides well below us?
The truth of the matter Bob is that what you say has very little impact on my views because you are ALWAYS negative. Just look at your comment above about Shelvey - "9 out of 10 of those efforts his row Z" In fact his first effort thumped the post and his second thumped the back of the net. Of course there are issues, anyone can see that, but I tend to look at the big picture (ie over a season) rather than over react to individual defeats or the results of a few weeks. We have had some great results and some poor results. I was at WBA and was extremely disappointed with the performance, but I was also at Man U and Southampton so I take the rough with the smooth. Do I think Monk can sort the problem? I think he probably can. He is a youngster thrown into a top management post and he is on a steep learning curve. He has the experience of playing under several great managers and I think he wants to follow their style, but for various reasons that isn't happening at the moment......but he has been around the block enough to know what is required to fix it Unfortunately these things may take time and as far as I'm concerned I'll wait until it's sorted. If he had only obtained 20 points from 25 games I would be concerned, but he hasn't and credit has to be given to him for that. The "lets forget the first three games" brigade is bullshit. The first three games are all part of our season and that's what I base my views on. I'm not prepared to write off one of the greatest victories in the Clubs history to satisfy the anti-Monk brigade in their constant tirade against the Swansea City manager. For the record I was against Michael Laudrup being sacked, while there were some calling for his head. I cannot recall any Swans manager being constantly abused by this forum, yet he has kept us in the top half of the Premier League for longer than probably any one. Time will tell if he is successful, but if he is successful I think he will be here for a very long time.
The thing is PGF, if we had been playing good football on a weekly basis and then went to Southampton and nicked with that performance I think I would be more than happy. Another bad performance against WBA I could take as it would be a one off. But these performances are not one offs, The poor performances ins the norm now and I fear things will get worse. Someone on here said a team winning when having a bad day is a sign of a good team. But again this is the norm for us. I cant remember the last time I walked out of the Liberty and thought wow we were good today, now I walk out and listen to other fans moaning about the standard of football we are playing, the lack of effort from players, the lack of chances we are creating, these issue have to be down to the way we are set up, coached and game play instructions. These are the things that worry me. Luck can only carry you so far and I feel that we are going to start running out of it soon. I don't feel there is any chance of us going down, but we have to change it somewhere because our players are far better than the performances, however if we continue with the way we are playing I fear for next season. Some will say I must be a Monk hater, I am not, I will be honest and didn't want him to get the job, but was pleasantly surprised with what he did early on but, if people take their Swans goggles off we are now moving backwards and we are probably playing the worst stuff since we arrived in the PL. We have to do something at the end of the season or I fear we will end up in a big relegation battle next year. Whether that is getting rid of GM or bringing in someone who is more tactically aware.
Give us some names then musty as I can't think of any omissions to the sh1t list, so who's on your mind. As far as I'm concerned Monk ridded the surplus to requirements with each departure replaced with a more durable players who, importantly, is happy to be here. Monks transfer policy is exemplary, very, very impressive for a new, young manager, you know, a rookie. Oh, sorry, I forgot that some don't like it when they are reminded that our young, new, British manager is a rookie especially when he is performing so admirably. Monks transfer policy has been followed with intent and has positively improved and developing our/his squad. Our squad is developing well as a direct consequence of Monks acquisitions
Not moving backwards imo TLF. We've certainly changed our game from away from pretty yet vulnerable football to a more stoic, considered game, which so far has reaped rewards in points. A vital cog in the machine essential for our game to work and thrive is a sticky striker capable of goals, assists through vision, with strength and ability to hold up, see a pass and lay it off. At the very least he needs to offer a physical challenge to defenders. Bony was all of this and Gomis did look like he'd improve with games to challenge defenders and create incident. If he could do that then our points tally would tick but its stopped because Gomis is shooting blanks. No goals no results no points and that is exactly what has happened. Next season TLF, new players, new challenge, new problems and can't be seen from this side of the divide yet but to speculate, if we can sign a decent striker to replace the wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man we currently have then I don't see a fight in the basement for us, I don't see top six either but we are who we are.
Bony was exceptional. But we are a team, Sousa - at the time not hugely experienced - got us to succeed without any decent strikers for the whole season by organising the defence and keeping possession (boring at times but effective) not just claiming he'd done it. I keep seeing how wonderful Monk is 'for a rookie' which is another way of saying he's not up to the job. Monk is doing OK and might get more kudos if he kept the 'great I am' speeches to a minimum, stopped blaming all around for our failings and concentrated on getting the team playing as such. I keep reading he has improved the squad (I don't think he has other than in goal & that's been discussed on other threads) in which case why have we played so much awful, uncoordinated and disinterested football this season? We were very lucky no one took Bony in the summer as had been expected. As for Gomis, whatever is going on I can't understand why he wasn't sold in January, but there again he's consistently scored 1 goal in 3 games throughout his career in a good league, until this season.
I said it would take him a good 6 games or so to get up to speed and full match sharpness etc, so there really cannot be any excuses form him now. My feeling is that we will sell Gomis in the summer and after his bitching the sooner he goes the better. IMO he could score 20 goals in the remaining games and I'd still want him sold as for me he has already nuked his bridges here with us. We can then clear him out and then look to bring in a replacement for Bony (maybe Bony's replacement wasn't available until the summer) Next week against Utd, for me the result won't be important. If we get something from the game then that will be outstanding, but the biggest focus for me next week will be the performance of the team and I hope that it is 10 times better than what we saw v WBA.
Agree with that. For me, and I get the impression for a lot of others who attend matches, ATM improving the performance is more important than grinding out a result - that's fine occasionally or when in deep trouble, but if the performances are there the atmosphere will improve and points will come. I just hope it's not a repeat of Chelsea!
IMO I see Utd getting worse as the season has progressed. How they are third is beyond belief. IF (and it's a very very big if atm granted) we play as we all know this team CAN play, then we should pick up the three points next week
Some fans are expecting far to much today but at the start of the season they were expecting us to go down.... If being in the top half all season is now not good enough for you then what have changed, what have you seen that says we should be doing better ?? As far as im concerned we have done very well and im proud of monk for doing so well in his first season and everything i read in the media and comments from the club and monks peers at every other club who have nothing but praise for him.......what are you seeing we dont or what are you expecting you never expected at the start..?
If you think everything is fine and dandy then good for you. If you think we are playing good football then good for you. If you think that our tactics and in game substitutions are spot on then good for you. What I see along with a large number of Swansea fans, was a good start to the season and steady downward slide in the way we are playing, the effort in the team, their ability to pass and move. I accept our point situation is good and no one can fault that, but performances have been for the majority of the games this season have been below what we all expect. Gm was employed with the board saying, he knows the DNA of the club, he knows the way we expect a Swansea to play, well I think he must have a bit of Stoke DNA in him because we have gone as far away from the Swansea way as we possibly could. I accept that each coach changes things for their way, but the football played now is just the most boring I can remember except for 1 or 2 games. As I have said on here before, I don't think he should be sacked but he needs some experience help because his naivety is showing through more and more as the season progresses.
Unless you can provide some evidence... - which posters are you referring too? - where is the quote where said poster stated we were going down? - did these posters state they would be happy with a mid table finish at any cost or did they consistently post that playing 'the Swansea Way' was important to them? (by the way, the season hasn't finished yet) ....then I will assume that we are being subjected to the views of your quivering arse lips once again. Oh, and Dai Bigshot, do try to learn how to write in the English language more coherently.
he has enough experience of what we can do than anyone possible. We would not be one of the better also ran sides what our position all season tells us otherwise...we are a small team in a big pond and doing as well as expected we can do.
