From glory in the Mestalla to sleepwalking into Premier League trouble Swansea City's season of contradictions It was the best of times, it was – almost – the worst of times; this season's tale of one City was a campaign of contradiction. How else can you describe a period where Swansea secured some of its most memorable wins and yet came close to losing what had been worked so hard for? While despair never really appeared in its fullest form, danger and the first genuine worries over their Premier League well-being was very much part of the 2013-14 season. But so were nights never to forget, ones in Manchester and the Mestalla and a biggest win over rivals Cardiff City since 1987 which went some way to ensuring Swansea not only maintained their top-flight status, but their status as Welsh football's No.1. A season of European adventures never to be forgotten but, more than anything, a season of inconsistency that no-one would really wish to be repeated. A time where the club made their first sacking in a decade but did so in a bid for stability that they hope they have found in the new man at the helm. And while success was found in safety, so it also came with frustration at trying to figure out how a team who could hit such stylish standards could let them slip and come close to sliding into real trouble. Ultimately, on reflection, it was a case of job done. While plenty on the outside were excitedly tipping top-six finishes before a ball was kicked, the Swans' overall aim was, and probably always will be to stay in the division and defy the odds stacked against the community club in the world's most glamorous league. Throw in the fact the club had to cope with an extended European run for the first time in their history and no-one should dismiss the achievements of the season. But it was not job done without doubts and a determination to learn lessons. It was why the decision was made to part with Michael Laudrup in February, a call not made on results alone but on a bigger worry of the bigger picture. The 'erosion of club principles' Huw Jenkins wrote about in his programme notes soon after the sacking pointed to a number of issues that had eventually become insurmountable. Whether on the training pitch, in the dressing room or in the boardroom, it was felt the positives Laudrup had brought to the Liberty, and there were plenty, regardless of how things ended, had ceased to outweigh the negatives. It can never be argued whether Laudrup would have kept Swansea up or not, although a panic over survival chances was not the most compelling factor behind the sacking. What cannot be ignored is that Swansea had been 'sleepwalking' into trouble at times. Blowing away opponents and observers with some performances, they would blow up the next. There had always been an element of justification even when signs appeared at the end of last year when an early reaching of 40 points was cited for a fall-away in form. So, too, at the start of this season where defeats to the big-guns, including an opening day defeat to Manchester United, were explained as to why the early points return was not as it should have been. The home draw with Liverpool – where £5m summer signing Jonjo Shelvey summed up Swansea's season by having a hand in all four goals of a 2-2 draw – seemed to be a turning point. And when it was followed up by the incredible success at Valencia, the former Europa League winners and the competition's top seeds, normal service seemed to have returned. Looking more like a Spanish side than the Spanish giants they faced, the thousands who had made the once-in-a-lifetime trip saw a once-in-a-lifetime display in a 3-0 win in one of the continent's most evocative arenas. The critics said Valencia were not the side they once were – their eventual run to the semi-finals suggested the result was every bit impressive as it seemed. But Swansea never really kicked on, never lived up to the potential of a squad assembled and claimed as the club's strongest ever after another raid on La Liga. While defeats to the big guns were explained away, chances to pull away from hints of trouble were never really taken. Having beaten Newcastle 3-0 in a key game, draws to Norwich and Hull were killers when a crunch Christmas period faced them. Slowly, the spirit seeped out of Swansea and showed its ugly face in games over the new year when arguments on the field and a lack of trust between teammates were obvious. Dressing room rows reared their head in newspaper headlines while the FA Cup win at Birmingham - coming after a stunning first ever win at Old Trafford to buck the trend – did not disguise how things were going awry. Captain Ashley Williams – who along with Leon Britton was one of few who offered regular reliance – was angered more than most. When worse followed at West Ham, Laudrup's time was up, Monk's time just beginning. And didn't it begin with a bang, a brilliant, impassioned win over Cardiff that produced points and performance to offer hope of more to come? So, too, the home game with Napoli in the knock-out stages of Europe, a suggestion 'Swanselona' were back even if they couldn't get the goal they deserved against opponents managed by Rafa Benitez and who had started the season in the Champions League. They deserved more too in the San Paolo, an incredible offering where Jonathan de Guzman's goal had fans daring to dream before Gonzalo Higuain stopped the fantasies coming to fruition. If only Wilfried Bony had bagged the chances, but the £12m summer record signing more than made up for it back on the domestic front. Efforts took their toll and nerves and pressure crept into remaining fixtures after a draw with Crystal Palace and defeat to West Brom. But the heat did not get to the ice-cool Bony whose double at Newcastle had safety stamped all over the result. Under-utilised by Laudrup, made the most of by Monk, his goal and Shelvey's stunner got the win over Aston Villa that got the job done. For Monk, given a three-year-deal in the wake of security, the job is only just starting. And he knows consistency will be key after a campaign of contradictions. - BY CHRISWATHAN/WalesOnline Thank you Chris for rapping up our season so well!........................
Excellent piece but wouldn't agree with all of it. Still, better than I or many other could have produced.
Hopefully monk can bring stability and consistency to our results. Can he attract so called 'big players'. I think it may be better to go for more solid players like Caulker,Snodgras in the championship and other leagues like this. Big players usually carry big egos and this may not be good for swans
Should have sacked laudrup a lot earlier than we did.....thank god commonsense prevailed in the end before it was too late..
"Erosion of club principles" Seems to be some contradiction about this. In his programme notes post Michael Laudrup, Huw Jenkins suggested that a change was needed as Swansea principles were being eroded. But, when asked about that comment, Jenkins said:- "What I said HAD NO DIRECT BEARING (my caps) on Michael Laudrup or his time at the club. He had a good 18 months here and I had a great working relationship with him". (Until Jenkins started dabbling with emails). Seems to fly in the face of some on here who claimed that it was Laudrup's fault, as Jenkins himself has categorically denied it. So, I wonder, exactly WHO was eroding our club principles? Just asking.....
A season unfinished, compliments of a sneak of a chairman and board, who worried about theyre own agenda instead of the clubs and fans .
Total points earned in season = 42 Points earned under Laudrup = 24 Points earned under Monk = 18 Laudrup led the Club into Europe,via winning the League Cup,or whatever they call it. Laudrup has a status in the game that Monk will never have. Monk has achieved NOTHING yet. So,go figure.
Like I ve said in the past , anyone could have taken over Laudrups healthy team after the sacking and do as well , if not better ....confidence replaced by hope going into a new season for the first time for me .
Laudrup was in charge for more games (24 games to be exact), so it's natural he earned more points. Interesting for me is that under Laudrup's games, we had a -6 goal difference. Under Monk we had a +6 goal difference from 14 games. That's impressive, and probably the best return any manager of Swansea in the top flight has produced. Under Monk, even against the top teams, if we had to lose we were only losing by 1 most of the time, which aided his goal difference. Both Laudrup and Monk only picked up 1 point each against the top 7. Again, Laudrup having more opportunities to do so. When we won under Monk, it tended to be comfortable. Of our 5 wins under Monk, we won 4 of them by 2 or more goals. Winning by 2 or more goals was a trait of Rodgers' Swansea. Score first, score second, maybe concede, and then score another on the break. When we did win, we used to win 3-0 and 3-1 a lot under Rodgers. All hints that we are getting back to that mentality. I'm currently doing a serious statistical breakdown of Laudrup and Monk this season. I'll have the article posted by the weekend.
Apples and oranges ... its like racing someone elses car to victory then having to build your own car the next race . Monks season next year will make everything crystal clear . To me his only chance is to keep most of Laudrups team together , if not , a catastrophe by Christmas with no time for someone else to fix could be on the horizon ... hope Im wrong
Not really. Because despite Laudrup building a pretty good car, he sure as hell didn't tune it properly. To stick to the car theme, I'd more likely say that Monk took over the wheel of Laudrup's coughing, spluttering, oil-leaking, punctured Aston Martin and thankfully was able to push it over the finish line. Laudrup did build a pretty good team, that is 100% true. It's just a shame he couldn't figure out a way to actually make them play like a good team during his second season. It was worse than inconsistent. We played well once every 3 or 4 games under Laudrup during the 13/14 season. ANYWAY! Back to the OP, a good write-up from Chris. He pretty much sees it as I see it. Cautiously optimistic about next season.
I think most can see that Monk has improved things with the fewer games he's played compared to Laudrup, and his stats can only get better next season, though there are a few areas that worry me regarding Monk, not least his substitutions, that said I look forward to your article bigkidderz!...............
Laudrup just got the car back from the shop after major repairs when his car was taken ... 37 games Laudrup steered the club through and kept us in the 3 competitions while Monk was out in Laudrups repaired car for a Sunday stroll , bypassing towns such as Europa and FAcupville ...... and it almost broke down if not for some late , unconvincing wins
Lets not forget that Bony was not a frequent starter at the beginning of the season due to lack of fitness, of which he went on a special plan, he also took time to get used to our games style, you only have to see how his first touch is coming along now that he has to use that part of his game. Lets not take away what impact a firing on all cylinders Bony has done for us in recent weeks. Something ML did not have the luxury of early season. That would play a huge part in the points tally between both managers. A striker on wicked form. Im not saying ML was better, or worse, I am not saying GM is better or worse, but if you are going to consider points tallies, lets not forget the intricate details of getting those points. Players on form (Bony) Injuries (Dec/Jan) fixture list (Europa) Quality of opposition (Our Dec/Jan fixtures) they all have an effect. And to come away with 1 point per game in all that, was remarkable in my eyes, yes the performances were not always present, they haven't been under Monk either, but both managers have done ever so well with what they have, in fact I side with ML slightly more than I do Monk due to some of the issue's ML had to deal with (small squad was his own fault)
