From www.TheSwanseaWay.blogspot.co.uk Laudrup to pen contract extension? First up today is the news that Huw Jenkins is confident he can persuade Michael Laudrup to sign a new extended contract. Laudrup currently has just over 12 months remaining on his current deal, and rumours are he's expected to add at least a 12 month extension: Chris Coleman, meanwhile, has been in the press commenting on how, even if the Great Dane does have his head turned, the Swans will be alright. Surely it is only a matter of time before Swansea chance upon a manager who is genuinely more interested in building a club in his own visage, than in quickly working his way to one of the more "prestigious" jobs in world football? In picking Laudrup, who can look back at his career safe in the knowledge there is very little he's already achieved (as a player, anyway), the Swans may finally have found that man. He's remarked a few times that he wants the opportunity to mould a club, and that at Real, for example, you can finish 2nd and be sacked. With this current Swansea team seemingly capable of pushing on even further, and with no reason to doubt the new-found attractiveness of the club for new signings, there is reason to be confident that Laudrup will be here for at least another year. Whether he's still here for the extra year he's rumoured to be putting pen to paper on is another matter, so let's deal with that when it comes to it. Leon still holding out hope of England call-up. There aren't many players in the world who can say they finished a season as the most accurate passer on the entire continent, yet haven't played for their national team. The England team's failure throughout my lifetime seems to revolve around picking players for their reputations, as the top brass at the FA know the media would have a field day if certain big £100kpw+ names were left out in favour of players such as Leon. The irony is that, in my opinion, by playing someone like Leon you would then be able to get away with a more frivolous team selection. Leon's discipline is so total that he gives the rest of the team the freedom to play, safe in the knowledge that if they're ever in trouble, then can ping the ball at Leon from any direction and the chances are he'll control it immediately before finding a team-mate with an accurate pass. That's not hyperbole, that's statistics. Players like Carrick know they're expected to hit Hollywood passes as well as "keeping the midfield ticking over", but in positioning Britton at the base of any midfield, I believe you make the sum of parts greater. Ashley Williams to Liverpool, Arsenal & Spurs? Now, I'm still yet to see any actual meaningful quotes regarding this however it does seem to be gathering pace. I've been told on Twitter and elsewhere that Arsenal have had a scout at Swansea games five times in recent weeks, and generally in the near past whenever we've heard someone is after one of our leading lights, it's ended up with that player saying goodbye to South Wales. This may be different though. Swansea have raised the bar. In winning the League Cup, we can no longer be considered a "plucky upstart club" who are liable to lose all of their top players given time - we've got European football next year and there is absolutely no reason to believe the squad won't be strengthened in the summer. Everything points to a bigger, better Swansea City next season, and wish Ashley Williams both team and international captain, it would surely have to be a head-turning offer before he'd consider leaving. How many trophies have the aforementioned history-laden triumvirate won between them this season? Oh yeah, that's right... A reason (if you don't already need one) to stay away from The Sun. For clarification, I mean the newspaper. I'd be disappointed to have to explain why we should all stay away from the giant fiery ball in the sky, although given the level of intellect displayed by those at the red-top would indicate this would probably be news to them. I'll set the scene shall I? Picture this folks: A major competition final at the home of the sport - two teams - one hailing from the basement division (a feat not matched for over 50 years prior) and one playing in their first cup final ever. 80,000 fans cheering their team on, on what is undoubtedly, for most at least, the biggest sporting day out in their association with the club. The game itself was almost surreal, but ended in a 5-0 win. Now, I'd say, one of those aspects should be heavily involved in any headline used about the day. What should NOT be used, is a negative sentence making out Nathan Dyer to be well, someone prone to a strop. Maybe these football journalists are too used to playing at Wembley and having the chance to score a hat-trick, or maybe they deliberately avoided giving any credit to either team - either way, it is atrocious journalism. I am of course, talking about their back-page headline in the wake of the final: "CAPITAL SWAN STROP" Well done guys, you really earned your corn that day. I can't ever remember paying money for the Sun, so I can't say I'm overly-familiar with the intricacies of their policy, but that really does smack of some kind of agenda. Maybe that's the conspiracy theorist in me shining through, I don't know. Either way, I'd hope their South Wales circulation dips a little as they continue to mark themselves out as purveyors of absolute dirge.
Bit harsh on the Sun, Scott, but I respect that it is your opinion. I usually buy the paper purely for football coverage and find their coverage of the Swans both ample and fair. We can all find fault with the coverage, the standard of writing etc with ALL the national dailies because this sort of thing is so subjective but, I find the guys who cover our matches in the Sun, are generally complimentary and encouraging. I read every major publication on line and find the Sun no better, no worse, than the others to be honest. This of course is accepting that the entire industry is based on opinion, conjecture and often sensationalism to sell newspapers. And, of course, we all know that the truth is often put on the back burner to promote sales. It's a sad fact of life but we have to live with it. Good article, by the way.
Thanks for the feedback Ivor, and it probably is harsh on The Sun, but only, in my opinion, because I didn't state (as you say) they're no better or worse than many others. I would say, however, that the general standards at certain papers (The Independent mainly) are absolutely miles ahead of most of the other "newspapers" and I do worry given that small amounts of individuals control massive sections of our supposedly free media. To have that as a headline when the Swans have just enjoyed the biggest day in their 100 year history is, to me, insulting, and there is no way it could have got to print without someone saying "Isn't that really harsh? Ah, f**k it" - and I think that while this isn't an example of their worst exploits, they, and many others with them, are a negative influence on society in general. I'm talking more about the paper in general here, mind, not the sports coverage so much...
I see nothing harsh in what you say about the Sun, it should be forced by law to be printed in glossy paper and stuck on the top shelf so that 99.999% of our species living in the UK doesn't get an opportunity to see it. But... that is just my opinion,
when Jenkins says laudrup is going nowhere and will sign a contract extension then you can take it with a pinch of salt, He might sign a contract just like Brendan did but within 24hrs of jenkins saying Brendan is going nowhere he was the liverpool manager.......only laudrup knows and he has not been approached by real madrid or anyone yet as far as reports are and we will have to wait until the end of the season anyway as if he has been approached then he is not going to say anything at this stage of the season......My personal opinion is that if real madrid want him then he will take the job no question..
I don't think that Laudrup wants the sort of pressure that he'll get at Real Madrid right now. He WILL be expected to deliver La Liga, possibly the Copa Del Rey (?) and definitely the Champions League. And the ridiculous thing is that, even if he wins any of them, his job will still not be guaranteed long term. Just check out Madrid's track record in this context. I can see the excuses being trotted out now - didn't score enough goals; conceded too many; didn't win by enough points: failed to do it with enough style etc etc. Of course, the real kicker is that, even if he delivers on all counts, the Real hierarchy would not like the God like status he would achieve with the fans. Would make them feel insecure!! Right now, he has what he wants. No pressure, no interference, reasonable funds and the chance to show that he can develop a small team into a real force in the most high profile league in the world. Michael Laudrup will move on and there is no doubt about it because he has said so but I don't think it will be for a while yet.
some jacks dont half make me laugh and cringe at the same time with their comments, "laudrup not wanting the pressure a big club will put him under" WHAT!!! you cant have much faith in his ability and im sure he has more faith in himself than some do on here, or is it clutching straws or something get in the real world and realize that any manager if offered a chance of being a manager of one of the top 4 clubs in the world would drop everything and jump at the chance. If they turn it down they are putting their career at risk as they might not be asked again...what a load of codswallop that managers dont want pressure...they thrive on pressure....nobody has said he is going anywhere yet but be prepared if the offer gets made by real madrid in the summer it will be too much to turn down by anyone let alone laudrup ....and at the end of the day so what, we just employ another.....pressure my arse....what pressure this is a top 4 club...A challenge maybe but if you are as confident in your ability as they are in wanting you then you have no pressure...If he fails then he fails but it will have been them who came in for him and not the other way around....
Yawn. Michael Laudrup will manage a top club one day but it will be when he chooses, not when one of them decides to come along and pick him up. In managerial terms ML is still a relative rookie and he is smart enough to realise that. A season or two with us will give him experience and time to polish his act. When he has done that he will move on.
get realistic all im saying is IFhe is offered the real madrid job and he says he will want to go back to Spain then what an honor and opportunity he will have...All this rubbish he dont want the pressure ....I suppose he is not bothered about furthering his career because he finds the beaches around the gower to much to let go.. And will say sorry i dont want to manage one of the best teams in the world i would rather stay in wales.... come back to planet earth and put your self in his shoes.....Lets hope they dont make him an offer as thats the only chance he will be staying...
