'steady, workmanlike players' Dictionary - phrase meaning 1) stodgy 2) boring 3) your own clique 4) a group who knuckle down as they are getting their own way (see - Taylor, Shelvey, Gomis) or 5) having little or no flair.
Equally, you could include Competent Efficient Consistent Capable of achieving 47pts in record time, 6 games earlier than the previous best. However, insufficient inspiration to win a cup......... In my view, after the turmoil of last season and given that the League is the "bread and butter" - a steady, workmanlike season is ok and will hopefully be a platform for further improvement!
Ashley Williams: "I think anyone watching us regularly will say this is the best team and squad that we've had since I've been at the club," he said. "[Manager Garry Monk] did a good job in the summer, and in January, of bringing in good players and strengthening us." "I think we are all enjoying what we are doing - the all round quality, the way that we work in training, the shape that we've decided on and the fact that we can adapt a little bit and play different formations." "We've got very intelligent players in the team, but I think the main thing is the structure of the staff set-up and the players that have bought into it."
He's not sitting in the stand. He is team captain. Hmmm. Best squad? Get serious. We have two players out and we're struggling. I'm not wanting this to be a Laudrup / Monk thing as this point is one about the squad, but at one point in 2013 we had 10 first team players unfit and still played well in three competitions.
I was dead set against Monk's appointment but one wonders what he has to do in order to win over some people. Credit where it's due I say. A record points haul and possibly our best position too. On the down side, we've been dreadfully inconsistent this season and our game lacks the crisp intensity of the past. Our cup runs were poor as well but bear in mind this is a Manager learning on the job. So I can understand some of the criticism but for a first season in the toughest, most competitive League in the world (see QPR almost giving Chelski a shock yesterday - that couldn't happen in La Liga so cut the crap that it's a weak Prem) Monk has done a grand job. If we fade away and end up further down the table then that be unfortunate and something neither he nor the players currently deserve imo.
My meaning of workmanlike : looking like they may be capable of work..... a bit like some council workers.
It is transparently evident bob that all you are doing here is questioning ANY player MONK has signed then childishly levering in references to a disbanded clique of ex-players, who are where now? to continue your ancient arguments and views of an old manager who almost relegated us. So pathetic if true bob, is it true? I say it is as you have purposefully gone OFF TOPIC in order to shamefully attack Monk by insinuating that the sacked danes players, were/are better than Monks current crop. I don't have to defend a thing here bob as the evidence proves you ineptly incorrect; if that is what you are doing of course, are you bob? if not I apologies unreservedly. So, just in case your not bob, to your post Cork Bob, are you saying that you think that Cork is not an improvement to our midfield? If not why not? My view is that Cork is an upgrade to our midfield BECAUSE imo, he is a natural DM and is a little quicker and posses a little more ball control and has a better long ball than Britton. Cork was bought to bolster our midfield and to take over Brittons role as Britton, and we all still love him, is not getting any younger and Carroll simply isn't working out. what do you think bob? Naughton Bob, are you saying that you think Naughton is not an upgrade to our defence? If not why not? My view is, and it hurts to say, Naughtin is an improvement BECAUSE we need to consider Rangels age induced limitations. Unfortunately he/Rangel doesn't have the legs to do what he used to anymore where as Naughton has. I also believe that Naughton is a more stable defender than Rangel, has a better cross but, admittedly, doesn't posess Rangels flair. Thing is, neither does Rangel these days and I'm pretty sure that Naughton is young enough to work on his game and improve as an attacking full back. (We don't have wing backs) what do you think bob? Gomis Gomis was not signed to replace Bony but to complement him. My view is we need to sign a striker as an upgrade to Gomis BECAUSE I personally doubt Gomis has it in him to string together a consistetly good season. Although he was not getting game time when Bony was here, he still had oppertunities to impress and failed to do so. He has scored goals of late but most have been team goals where he's got on the end of a pass or cross. Little has come from him individually, many of Bony's goals were completely down to Bony. This is why I feel that Gomis is not good enough to carry the attack for us and therefor I opine that we need an upgrade. Mitrovic imo, what do you think bob? Fernandez Imo Fed is a steadier, more reliable player than Chico aka 'clown', I'm sure I read that somewhere. My view is that Fed is more reliable and steady in defence than Chico which is a requirement of a CB in the premiership. I think that Fed is an upgrade to Chico BECAUSE you wont see Fed kicking the oposition in the head or, making ridiculously rash challenges for dangerous free kicks or, putting our defence under pressure through being caught out of position; as Chico regularly was. Fed is a stable solid defender imo Chico was not, he was entertaining I agree, but he was also a liability and a red card waiting to happen. what do you think bob? Siggy Siggy in my view is more consistent, therefore more reliable, than De Guzman ever was. My view is Siggy is a better player than DG BECAUSE he has a more penetrating short and long game, due to his laser vision, than DG. I don't recall DG cutting up defences with a single, elegant pass which Siggy does regularly. As I recall DG played a safe, percentage, short passing game with little penetration. Also as far as I recall DG passed back far too often which wound up many on this board. You included bob if I remember correctly. DG always looked for an easy offload and very rarely challenged defences. DG did have a decent shot but not as good as Siggys imo, and I also feel that Siggy is a better dead ball specialist than DG. Every time Siggy takes on a free kick he invariably works the keeper. DG rarely did, other than one incredible strike in Europe, but he never reproduced that again. Siggy has and does. That is why I think Siggy is a huge upgrade to de Guzman. what do you think bob? You can see bob that I always feed the debate by explaining my reasoning, that's what debate is all about so...... ........join the debate bob and tell us WHY you think as you do. Put some meat on the bones of your emaciated opinions so we can have a debate. simply dissing others views without adding your own is cheap and only generates sticky argument never debate. You went off topic but I will reply You say "Cork might be (an improvement) but others have not stepped up or have been injured" I don't understand what this means. Are you saying that anything Cork does has no merit simply because Leon has been injured or because Carroll has not worked out? You'll have to explain that one to me bob as I don't understand your drift. Monterro You say "On his day Montero is world class between the half way line and goal line but if he is easily sidelined and doesn't defend as the team needs is he an improvement" I beg to differ, often Monterro is seen chasing back in defence and harrying opposition attackers, more so than Dyer and Roultedge. I agree he is carrying a strain, exacerbated by international duties, but to label him as easily sidelined at this stage I suggest is unfair as his contribution to every game he's played has been positive and inciteful. He creates opportunity for others and his pace and trickery has put Gomis on the goalscoring map. Are you suggesting that we would be better off as a team by starting Dyer? or are you suggesting that Hernandez aka 'sick note' is/was better?Please quote your source for your stats as mine differ, particularly around the number of games.minutes Hernandes played for us. If yours are correct and he only made 28 appearences over two and a bit years then that's pretty shocking don't you think ? Why on earth do you think that Fed is not an upgrade over Chico? I simply don't see it. What has Chico ever done to deserve respect as a CB? Why on earth do you think that Siggy is not an upgrade to de Guzman? Back on Topic now bob, Michu Would you have Michu back bob and if so why so? Would you select him as a squad player, on the bench or as a starter Bob? Who would you drop to include him in either of the above and why Bob? I'm not setting out to tweak your 'laudrup tender nipples' bob but to incite some debate. I've explained why I think as I do, which I ALWAYS DO, now its your turn and I invite you to open up your side of the debate so we can bat, match and contrast opinion based on observation and not based on 'the bigger dad' syndrome. What say you bob?
Monk have proved all the doubters wrong as he becomes the top manager we have ever had in the premiership. He has learned all the good ways how to do things and be successful from Martinez, Brendan and Jackett and he also took on board how not to do things by laudrup........So in his first full season he wins hands down the rookie manager of not only the season but of the decade....
There's far too much 'can he cant he', 'will he wont he' surrounding Michu for me to take his return seriousely Jack. I'd sooner offload and splah out on this guy http://www.comeonyouswans.com/news/...rom-arsenal-liverpool-valencia-more_2015_04/3
Tranmere i think, i know he was scoring goals for them but then got injured and i dont think they have won a game since.....
Like hell we played well. We limped over the line in EL against teams we hadn't heard of and we were sliding down the table, all while playing crap.
I'm not entirely sure about your mildly irritating tone stumpy, but I agree with most of that rather large, rambling post above.
As a life long fan of the Swans I have only got to say this about the Michu situation. If he is fit and prepared to commit 100% to us I welcome him back. If he is not fit I am afraid we need to let him go If he is not 100% committed, for whatever reason, then he can get lost . We do not need rotten apples in our barrel. He needs to remember that he is no more important than anybody else in the team.
