With the loss at Wembley yesterday and the inevitable inquest and troubles a playoff loss brings who’s staying who’s going etc etc So the talking points, is Cooper staying or going, well just reading the papers ex Wolves Nuno Espirito is emerging as Palaces no 1 target. Cooper on the list. I’ve seen that Coopers compensation package is around 4.5m, as the song goes, will he stay or will he go? Onto our team. We do have a sound building block of a team, does it need a rebuild or a tinker? Difficult one, I’m in the middle on this one, my preference is to build a young side that can stand us in good stead. I’d sacrifice a promotion push next season, to build then tweak for a full on promotion push the following season. Goalkeeper - We have two seasoned pros on the books so let Benda & Hamer fight it out for the number 1 slot, why try to get Woodman back and pay all the loan money for him. Defence - The foundations are there, we have two left backs, which is the better between Bidwell & Manning, not a lot between them, my preference is Manning. We have two right backs in Naughton & Roberts question is will someone come in for Roberts, very possible so we might need a right back. Centre half’s - an area were I think were blessed, granted Gheuhi will probably go back to Chelsea, love to get him back for another season, not sure if we could afford the loan figure. Anyway onto what we do know, Cabango is turning onto a fine centre half for someone do young, who would play alongside him? I do like Bennett and he would be my choice, I also like the look of Latibeaudiere looks a very accomplished player. So we would need another back up centre half. Midfield - Now this area to me needs a re build. Why we persisted with Hourihane is beyond me, he offered us sweet fa, all he was there for is set pieces, flattered to deceive (he’s no Gylfi) Our midfield is much of a much, all basically similar players, we have no creativity there, I won’t be surprised to see Grimes leave, think he will get snapped up so I’m going to leave him out of this. So what of the players we have left. Of the current starters we have Fulton & Smith, think they can be a very good back bone to the midfield, of the remaining players I’m sorry by Dhanda is just not good enough can be good in fits and starts but not convinced with him. We have Ollie Cooper, been a bench warmer for a while with the odd Cameo appearance, the lad deserves a shot at some game time, but we need to find our creative nugget to get the ball moving forward quicker not passing it aimlessly from defence to midfield and back. So I see we need at least two new additions to this area. Forwards - Where do I start!! Well it’s obvious to my two year old grandson we need an out and out striker, No disrespect to Cullen he’s not going to bag us the 25 goals we need from our striker. So we currently then have on our books Lowe, Cullen & Whittaker, not seen enough of Whittaker to see what he can do, Lowe has been a good signing fo what we paid, but considering his natural position is out wide, he’s not very quick. What of Ayew and Routs, a little dicky bird told me if we had gone up a contract was there to be signed, now I’m not taking that as gospel but a good source, so I’m assuming he won’t be with us unless is a hefty salary slash. Routs, think the lad is class, love his dry sense of humour. Without his injury I could see an new one year contract, but now with the injury, we may have see the last of him in a Swans shirt, just hope they treat him better than they did with Dyer. As a great poster used to say, sadly not posting anymore discus...........
Very good summation Nev With so many loan players it's very difficult to make any call yet. And keeping Grimes and Roberts would be ideal. Defensively I think we're ok (or close to it) but like you say, midfield creativity is worrying, which has a knock on effect to attack, where we cannot play another season without an out and out striker (Cullen or otherwise). I would like to see Cullen given the starting spot before making a final decision but obviously not with the formation and tactics Coops is playing. I think we have to give Coops great credit for reaching the final but I don't want to watch another season of his football if he can't evolve. We showed glimpses of some great attacking football but it was intermittent at best and Coops had no response when we got worked out and pressed hard. It should be interesting whatever happens but something has to change and improve though.
Manager - What’s Laudrup doing? He must still have contacts to bring in cheap players. If not, why not a left field choice such as Rangel Goalie - Benda or Hamer Defence - with Guehi going, bring in another loanee? Midfield - Joe Allen out of contract at Stoke? Ampadu needs a ‘solid’ season somewhere - try for him? Striker - with little money to spend, we need to do a ‘Brentford Moneyball approach’ and scour either League One, Scotland or Europe to find a cheap (undervalued) option. Wingers - Please, please, please sign wingers to give us width and pace. Above all, let’s return to the Swansea Way of playing
Maybe the Yanks just want steady and dependable (Coops). With a little bit of shrewd investment we could have got promotion. When they feel the club is on a sound financial footing maybe they'll be more ambitious. Who knows? The three stand out sides got promoted, so next season could be a big opportunity for an ambitious club.
