I know that football is a business and at the level we've now attained the money side of it is vast compared to what we've been accustomed to but I would like to think that Tatey will be given an opportunity to have a crack at the premiership ,yes he's prone to lapses and is not the quickest but from where we've been to where we are with him a constant regular in the side I for one would like to see him play in a shirt with the premier league badge on the sleeve(just for sticking with us) Players are not dull they know their limitations ( as do the rest of us)
It's not that he shouldn't get a chance, more will he be a first team regular for us, somehow I think not. Brendan has said there will be no sentiment here and I agree with him, there are choices to be made and we are bringing in 3 or 4 players in, someone has make way for them.
Tate is not a left back. He will be adequate cover for CB and RB, but he proved in the Championship final that his time at LB is done. Imagine Suarez/Lennon/Nani/Pennant/Walcott attacking the 10 yards of space that Tatey was giving Kebe... it doesn't bare thinking about. I'm still sure that he can do a job on his stronger foot at RB and he is a natural defender so CB is also a position he can cover. As negative as this thought is - keeping players like Tate and Monk is important in the event that we don't do well next season and get relegated. We don't need to keep dead wood, but experienced, tried and tested players are the best type to have in your squad. Look at John O'Shea at United, a player of limited ability, but good enough to come in and do a job - Monk and Tate will be our versions of O'Shea. I do believe that Williams should have the captaincy, but I would like Monk to captain the team at one point this season - he deserves to say that he captained a Swansea City team in all four divisions during his career here. Tremendous achievement if it happens!
One thing everyone has forgotten is the player cap of 25 per team. BR has already said no sentiment this time. They could be both casualties of the cap. Personally both have been loyal and deserve there chance. Both lack pace and I'm afraid strikers in the PL will find them out. Can Tate reinvent himself again, hope so.
Tate deserves the chance to play for us in the Premier league. Tatey is a true proffesional and will sit on the bench 50% of the time, never moan, but when called upon, will give 100% to Swansea. Every year weve heard the same arguments about our loyal players. Look at the blocks Monk did in the final, that is true commitment. As ive said before, we need the back bone of this club to stay as it is, and in the changing rooms and training, Tatey, Monk etc will show the new players what it means to be a Swansea player, not a bunch of mercenaries playing for a pay day.
Tate as said by most is quality but he doesn't really have any chance of taking the place of monk, Rangel or Williams but amazing cover for them in place of serran who clearly has no confidence or the passing ability we need . Monk on the other hand is quality and just shows the whole team direction and is a strong leader. I agree he might not make many games especially if Brendan works his magic...... Christopher Samba here we come Haha
Ok then - let's look at the 25 man squad currently 1. Dorus De Vries GK 2. Ashley Williams CB 3. Garry Monk CB 4. Alan Tate CB/RB 5. Neil Taylor LB 6. Angel Rangel RB 7. Jazz Richards WB/CM 8. Joe Allen CM 9. Leon Britton CDM 10. Mark Gower CM 11. Darren Pratley ACM 12. Stephen Dobbie ACM 13. Ferrie Bodde CM 14. Nathan Dyer RW 15. Scott Sinclair LW 16. Luke Moore ST 17. Craig Beattie ST 18. Cedric Van der Gun W/ACM 19. Kemy Agustien CM 20. Yves Ma-Kalambay GK 21. David Cornell GK 22. Andrea Orlandi CM/W 23. David Cotterill CM/W 24. Gorka Pintado ST 25. Daniel Alfei RB All the italic players are players who could easily be ousted from the 25 man squad. So with that in mind, you'd have to back Monk and Tate to at least make the squad! Bear in mind that I've left out Serran, Butler and Lucas as I don't believe they'll make the squad next year. Also I've included 3 players who don't currently have a contract with us, and I've not left room for Danny Graham if he signs.
I´d say Tate is good cover at CB. I seem to remember (could easily be wrong) our best run of defensive form was actually when Monk was out injured, and he´s very good in the air to be fair to him (Tate, that is). I´d be very surprised if Tate didn´t start 5 or 10 games at least.
It's a tough one about Tate... I guess we just have to hope he can step up. I'm sure he'll know as much as anyone that the pace in the PL is another level, and he'll really need to step up. That said, i'll be praying that we never have to see him at LB in the PL, Tate simply couldn't handle Kebe and I don't want to imagine what PL players would do to him. On the 25 man squad, I don't think that's even going to be an issue for us... There's more than enough space in the squad, and we could see a few players move on freeing up space. Also, i'm sure i'm right in thinking that players under 21 aren't included in the 25 man squad and we have some good young players breaking into the 1st team.
As much as I like Tate , next season I see him only being used as a cover player. I was concerned the space he gave Kebe on Monday and allowing him to run at him. That said I do think he was nervious, he did get into the game after 15mins and then had a decent game. Monk on the hand that block alone was worth his place in the team, will he play next season who knows! We do need a CB and a LB not sure if Taylor is ready yet, I would like to think that he's given a chance. Good times to be a Jack!!!!!!!!!!!
We have always performed well if not better when Monk have been sidelined. Tate did well against Reading. Giving Kebe that 10 yds was the right thing to do, if Tate had committed toa tackle he would have been left for dead. At least by giving Kebe room Tate could force him to go down the flank......as scary as it was i thought it was the right way to play...well done Tate. As for next season, i'm not sure him or Monk will be regulars.
Yep agree that by giving Kebe room allowed Tate more time. It was scary to see Kebe running at him, but he did get the measure of him. Don't think Kebe really troubled him in the second half. Monks poorly timed attempted header for Readings 2nd just highlighted our fraialties at set peices. They need to work on them!!!
Some good points of view here, and I can't see Tate & Monk not being included in the Squad, they in my view would have no problems with the lower end of the Premiership table, but I'm sure that Rodgers will see the need to drop them to the bench when we play teams ranked higher up the table, remember these boys have played the likes of Premier League Portsmouth, Fulham, Wigan, Blackpool, Wolves, Newcastle etc, so I think they definitely have a roll to play, but I think Tate's days of LB or RB are over, CB yes, but I do see both these boys raising they're game too. I think that Rodgers is likely to bring in two CB's, Rangel, Taylor, Williams will be fine.................... please log in to view this image Kidderz agree with your assessment there except for the inclusion of Beattie, there is no way I would keep him, he couldn't get much game time, last season in the Championship, he's a goner in my view!......... please log in to view this image
I've got to disagree with some of the comments about Tates performance on Monday. I know what you're saying about not committing and I think that's fair, if Tate had committed to every tackle Kebe would have left him for dead. On the flip side though every time Kebe came at him Tate was running and needed someone else to clean it up... Maybe some saw it as great tactical play, but I just think Tate feared the pace and skill of Kebe and simply couldn't handle him. Joe Allen was in there, as well as others cleaning it up to cover for Tate. I'm not hating on Tate, just trying to give a fair assessment and as above, I genuinely hope we never see him at LB again...
Tate has been outstanding this season so i dont know what games if any you have watched tatey play, he has earned his legend status and will step up to the premiership no problem....
Tate should play when we know were going to be pressing forward , it's his strong suit . Other that that , bit of cover here & there . Williams needs an absolute new partner & we need to spend , we do .
Alan Tate can make it, did not put a foot wrong when marking Pennant and co when we won at Portsmouth in the FA Cup (when they were a top10 Prem side) There will be competition from Matt Mills and may be one other
Agree, both will be good squad players, but certainly not nailed on starters for us if we have real ambitions to stay up.
