I would agree that is he a good player but 3 red cards this season? now a 2 match ban when we can least afford a player missing
Sorry JackCwm, I tried . We blundered majorily discarding Laudrup and Im not as good as most pretending we didnt .
No problems Roofjack. Interesting article below on BBC which does not quite see ML's second season in the same light as some others on here. However it is apparent that a great deal of posters here think it was a huge mistake. BBC Wales football reporter Mark Poyser looks back at their season so far and assesses their chances of securing a fourth consecutive top flight season . It was always going to be hard to follow one of the most successful seasons in the club's history. Expectations were sky-high at the Liberty Stadium as the prospect of a European adventure lay ahead after winning the Capital One Cup - the first major trophy in their history. The club were still basking in the glow of their best league finish for 31 years - ninth - during the Summer, when storm clouds and signs that all was not well began to gather. In June, Swansea severed ties with Laudrup's agent Bayram Tutumlu following a dispute over transfer policy, raising doubts about the Dane's future at Swansea. Despite reported interest from clubs across Europe, Laudrup outlined his intentions to stay at the club. The club broke its transfer record splashing out £12m on striker Wilfried Bony, from Dutch top-flight side Vitesse Arnhem and a further £5m to Liverpool for midfielder Jonjo Shelvey . After successfully negotiating two qualifying rounds, the Swans started their Europa League group with an impressive 3-0 win away to Spanish La Liga side Valencia. But they limped through to qualify for the last 32 of the competition securing only two points from their final four group games. Their Premier League form was also cause for concern with defeat in the first top-flight south Wales derby against Cardiff in November. The result not only hurt their pride but saw last season's top scorer Michu suffer an ankle injury that would see him play just twice in the three months that followed. They beat Newcastle United 3-0 in December to secure only their second home win of the season in the Premier League. They would win just once more in the league under Laudrup's management. An historic FA Cup win at Old Trafford against Manchester United simply papered over the cracks. In January police were called to the club's training ground following reports of a bust-up between defenders Chico Flores and Garry Monk. The players issued a statement denying there was a rift in the squad. A few weeks later Laudrup was sacked following the 2-0 defeat at West Ham and Monk was appointed head coach for the "forseeable future." His arrival brought an immediate impact with victory against bitter rivals Cardiff in Monk's first game in charge and an agonising defeat to Rafa Benitez's Napoli in the Europa League last 32. However the victory in the South Wales derby would be followed by nine winless matches before Saturday's 3-0 win against Norwich eased their relegation fears, opening up a seven point gap between them and the bottom three. Premier League safety seems to be within touching distance but the Swans cannot afford to go to be complacent with games running out, especially after their lacklustre performance in a 1-0 loss at Hull and a battling 10-man display ended in a 1-0 home loss to Chelsea. Next up it's struggling Newcastle, and a win there would help everyone relax a little.
No matter what anyone says , up till that Norwich game all was fine.Somehow Laudrup even got us past Man U to get to 5th round of the FA Cup in that "6 weeks " after the Norwich game . Only one reason for our position , not only no backing from the chairman for Laudrup this season but a knive in the back at the most convenient of times to boot We treated a good man bad , and an FA CUP , with disrespect ......and I didnt get what I wanted for Christmas.
When Laudrup went we had 24 pts from 24 games. We now have 36 points from 35 games. As such, it could be argued that our points average is higher under Monk.
Nice try taff , try looking at the reasons we took so few points after dec 15 , I cant get anyone else to , one honest look at why we struggled after the Norwich game in the Premier . We were in all 3 competitions pretty soundly and almost healthy when Laudrup got the boot .
Why do you "stop" at the Norwich game - is it because it suits your argument? If I "stop" at the Stoke game then the average is 2pts or 76pts for the season. When Laudrup went, we had gained 36 points from previous 38 games. We can all be selective.......
Because of injuries at a hard shedule , Norwich was a crossroad that we started loosing players and played all the big names till w3st Ham . It was all set for Laudrup , healthy players , Europa 2nd round , fought his way to Everton somehow for round 5 of the FA CUP , an " easing " Premier League schedule and a handshake from Jenkins .. Like I said before Huw shook hands with two current managers in a couple days knowing when they would be gone . Laudrup by the time he got home , and Monk when the seasons over.
Totally daft to suggest Monk is more capable than Laudrup considering the choice of players monk has availible and the teams we are playing against . We can go around in circles forever but truth be told premier league survival could and should be acheived even if a fookin' monkey was the manager ! We have a virtually fully fit squad and probably one of the top 3/4 striers in the premier league up front for us! it should never have got to the point where we are so close to going down in the first place . Im very pleased for Monk today,chuffed to bits for him in fact, im really pleased for the players too,they deserve a break and deserved the win against a woeful Newcastle team. In any other season we'd be down already,if we can beat Villa its done and dusted but its absolutly critical that the board realise the fook up made and put the mistakes right, if we stay up we have had an all mighty stroke of luck! it would have been in spite of the board and monk not because of them. I think it will be vital to re focus everything in the summer from the top downward, i honestly think that 90% of the playing staff is good enough,there need to be a few shown the door but not many,that is if players like Michu and Bony wish to remain here! The summer is going to be very interesting, im just thrilled to bits that we took the 3pts today, looking at sunderlands win at chelsea it proved that chicos stupidity probably did cost us vital points as Pablo was red hot and creating havoc so to go to newcastle and win was the required tonic. Lets enjoy this weekend and marvel at routs and bony,who for me have both been the main reason we are still fighting for survival,without those two we'd be going down for sure, bony will take the credit and rightly so but routs is playing with so much fight,passion and obscene skill and arrogance he is giving us all a lift with how he is murdering full backs. The rest of the team sometimes need to take inspiration and routs and bony have been giving them that,its a massive shot in the arm to ein today, im so happy that the finish line is in sight ,lets learn from this and lets count it as a lucky escape(if we stay up) because any other season off field goings on would have been enough to sin us and alot of it would have been self inflicted. Well done,mon and the players!
How Hodgson can't see how good Routledge is, is beyond me. He should be going to Brazil, he's a quality player.
