Yep, same old etc. The bookies aren't stupid but at this stage the big money will go on the obvious choices and the bookies are covering themselves. As soon as the season gets going and we actually see who's likely, then the odds will change (obviously).
Swansea City claimed another pre-season victory and clean sheet as goals from Ben Cabango, Josh Key, Joel Piroe and Josh Thomas (2) sealed a 5-0 win over Newport County at Fairwood. Cabango scored the opener as his prod towards goal beat the County keeper early in the second half. Key then doubled Swansea’s lead when he finished from an acute angle after a rapid attack from the hosts, before Piroe netted from the spot and Thomas grabbed a late brace. There was also another defensive shutout in Swansea’s final behind closed doors friendly as Michael Duff’s squad got more valuable minutes under their belt ahead of the new season. The Swans had started brightly, Cabango just failing to get on the end of an Olivier Ntcham cross, before Joel Cotterill was unable to get to a loose ball after good work by Ntcham and Ben Lloyd down the left. The visitors had a rare sight of goal just before the half-hour mark as a trialist headed over the bar under pressure from Harry Darling, while Jerry Yates and Key saw their headers fly over the bar and be saved respectively. It was goalless at the break, but Swansea were soon back on the front foot with Josh Thomas having an effort cleared off the line after Key had got to the byline and hung up a teasing cross. But Swansea did take the lead in the 51st minute when Cabango sent his follow up effort into the net after a corner was half-cleared. It was soon 2-0 as Thomas stretched the defence before Lloyd’s excellent cross was turned in by Key arriving at the far post. Chances kept coming, Darling was denied by a combination of crossbar and keeper as he met another Lloyd centre, while the Newport keeper palmed away an Ntcham strike from distance. The Swans further extended their lead when Joe Thomas was fouled as he raced onto the ball in the box, and Piroe swept home the resulting spot-kick. And Josh Thomas continues his fine pre-season form by sweeping home at the end of a fine attack and then volleying in after a Jay Fulton effort was blocked.
Coventry City have signed defender Joel Latibeaudiere following the expiry of his contract with Swansea City. The Sky Blues will still have to pay an undisclosed compensation fee for the Jamaica international, thought to be about £500,000. The 23-year-old, who has agreed a four-year deal, moved to south Wales from Manchester City in October 2020.
15 signings at Coventry? 5 done, another 10 required https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/s.../coventry-city-transfers-mark-robins-27349771
What’s the latest thoughts on Piroe, personally I will be annoyed if he goes cheap and to another Championship club! Leeds or Southampton absolutely the worst outcome!
Well that's what we would normally expect from the owners so it'll be interesting to see if there's any change in culture or outlook with the "new" regime. I suspect not though!
Bottom line is if he wants away then so be it. Others have gone others have come. Sometimes good sometimes not so good.
We daren’t make the same mistake as with Michu - fail to cash in ‘at his peak valuation’ and then he gets injured/crocked
What are his options? Stay quiet and nothing definitely happens in the transfer market or put it out there for all to know (like we didn't anyway though) and put some pressure on the owners. He's in the catch 22, like all Swansea managers these days, unfortunately. A boot up the arse may not be a bad thing for all concerned. Bottom line, let's judge him when the season starts. If he's any good he'll go to another club and if he's not then we start again and nothing's changed. We'll never build anything with the current ownership anyway.
It could be that before coming here he was promised that money would be made available and that signings would be made …..
