I think the credible scenario is that there was a big rift between some of the old established players and the new Spanish lot. Now that one of those old established players is head coach is it any surprise that it looks as if 4 out of 5 of the Spanish lot are leaving. At least we've still got Chico. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5w7gke1nvI
**** him, ****ing pussy. Boo hoo his girlfriend left him and his favourite manager got the boot. How could he possibly go on whilst only earning more than I earn a year in a week. **** off and stay gone.
Michu was a great Swan , I will always respect his great play and loyalty to us and team past . To bad he couldnt stomach being with us anymore stereo .
Michu came to Swansea because of Laudrup. Last season his reason for being here was sacked in acrimonious circumstances. Perhaps he blamed Monk for the way it was done and wanted no further part of it. Then he watched the proposed cull of the Spanish players, which probably cemented his desire to move. To be honest, the theory that he was jealous of Bony, in my opinion is laughable. On what evidence? It's pure conjecture but if others hold that opinion, fine. I don't. The guy is hugely talented in his own right and has no need to envy anyone. In fact, Bony would have aided him by taking the flak up front leaving Michu to concentrate on his favourite role of arriving late from deep to score. They never had time to develop anything between them because of Michu's injury: but when Michu was injured things started to go bottom up and I believe that Michu then decided it wasn't for him. Why shouldn't he? The manager you play for is a huge part of your incentive to be with a club and it doesn't take more than two brain cells to understand that he didn't rate playing for Monk one iota. His career. His choice. And he won't be the last...... Final comment. Don't take this as a slight on our club. He was as happy as a sand boy in his first season but last season things changed. As a result we lost one of the finest players we have ever had and I wish him well because he did us proud when he was here.
Monk stating he wanted him to stay does necessarily mean a lot. It looks like we are losing or have lost: Vasquez, lamah, Canas , Poz, Michu & Hernadez Rumours about Bony Davies Ki and unsure about Deguzman or Vorm Some of these may not have done a lot for us but we still need replacements and worryingly there are again rumours that players are turning us down. I am sure some of this to the shambles last season, starting with pre-season and player power. The board has to take some responsibility and get a grip of the situation starting with keeping hold of our better players. We will not be able to re-build a squad in one month before the new season.
I disagree with you there Ivor. Bony and Michu had plenty of time to form a partnership and it never worked out - it was one of the main talking points last season. The Bony/Michu conundrum was never resolved by Sir Mike. The issue of Michu being envious, I am not sure if envy is the right word. Michu was top dog the previous season - I know you have a fair background in sport so you will appreciate that for some sportsmen that is a hugely important position to hold in a team. Watching Michu last season I thought he was trying TOO hard and this affected his performance. Because he was top scorer the previous season, it appeared that he felt he had to continue doing the same, especially as Bony was probably not 100% fit in the first few months. However we had a new striker, so one of Michus main tasks should have been to feed Bony, Instead he spent more time trying to score himself - often getting in Bonys way. It became a mess and Michu often cast a lonely figure. Michu is a magnificent player - but the team has evolved over the last two seasons and Michu has to move with the team. Personally I hope he returns to the Club rejuvenanted - but I think I will be disappointed.
Who is the better bet for a club. The player who only comes because of the manager or the player who stays no matter who the manager is. Compare the attitude of Michu, Pablo, Canas and Pozuelo with Rangel, Chico and Amat.
Well I find the whole episode a sad one. Couldn't have imagined we'd see a genuinely World Class player in a Swans shirt before Michu and definitely couldn't have imagined that having found him and the whole football world lauding him (He made the Spain squad when they were a great Spain squad, World Champions FFS) we would then see said player leave a year later on a 1 year loan deal. The fact it's a Champions League club managed by Rafa Benitez that have picked him up speaks volumes about his ability. Very sad day indeed.
We will get mega money for him after his loan deal , to offset his 2 million or so original cost . Another good finacial legacy toward the club by our last manager, I only say that because its the truth .
Nosugarman .... I don't recall anybody beating a path to the Liberty to sign Rangel from us. Rangel's had a sweet ride with us from oblivion to the Prem. Chico is here, but you don;t know what his agent is working on behind the scenes. The same for Amat. Canas and Poz are persona non grata. That doesn't mean they don't want to play. It means that Monk doesn't want to play them. Big difference. And we don't know the whys and wherefores yet and may never do. Also Monk doesn't have ready replacements for Chico and Amat so we don't know what might happen if that changes.
Michu and Bony never had much of a chance to work together , or "Sir Mike " would have got us so much farther , Michu would have run himself ragged the last third of last season but had no belly for it when "Sir Mike " had the rug pulled from beneath him so shamelessly. So many intangibles to what "Sir Mike " would have achieved the last half ........ Ill be inconsolable for years wondering how are "Season of Seasons" should have really ended ... sorry , I cant get going ..
When you say "mega money", what figures are you thinking of? There is no way Swansea will make more than £5-7 mill for a player who's been loaned out: He does well --> Napoli buys him for an agreed figure. He does bad --> his value drops further, as he'll be one-year away from contract free.
I agree, Michu was one of the best I ever saw in a Swans shirt. I reckon he was never as special after Danny Graham left, though. (Wait...... Hear me out!) Graham used to make fabulous runs and could hold the ball up really well (even if his end product was lacking) and Michu running in from midfield would pick up the ball from him. Bony backs in quite a lot and doesn't maintain the possession as much. So subsequently doesnt have as much for Michu to take on. I also thought that was Michu's best role, not as lone striker where we also struggles to get him in good positions. It's not always about the best players, but the best fit. Despite my greatest hopes, Michu and Bony didn't fit 'hand in glove' like I'd hoped. Maybe he felt that too. If he's gone because the manager he came here for has gone, then his perspective is very ****ing wonky. Premier League football with £000's a week. I'd play for anyone.
It's peanuts compared to the really big money he was worth a year ago. Loaning Michu out is a devaluation... Williams or Davis are both valued higher - even Shelvey is worth more. £ 4-5 for Michu is a bargain...
Who is the better bet for a club. The player who only comes because of the manager or the player who stays no matter who the manager is. Compare the attitude of Michu, Pablo, Canas and Pozuelo with Rangel, Chico and Amat. The reason I asked the above question is that some posters say the players only came because of Laudrup and others say they are only leaving because of Monk. I used the Spanish players as an example but meant my question to cover all players. My own view is that I prefer those who stay loyal to the club and even today there are many examples of this. Incidentally I have no problem with those who stay getting the best deal for themselves. We would all do that.
Having read this thread in full, I have to say that I agree with the notion that Michu, for the good of his career, decided on the move. Not because Laudrup left, not because Monk is in charge. He never got his season going in the first 3-4 months and struggled to link with Bony. He took sick leave to sort out an ankle problem and watched from the sidelines as Swansea became more and more reliant on Bony. He tried to come back and, as has been stated, still struggled to link with Bony and make any personal progress in the team. He must've been thinking to himself, 'I've been out for 4 months and Swansea have moved on without me'. He has probably moved because, for his international aspirations, he needs to either be the biggest fish in a small pond, or be a medium-size fish in the best, elite pond. He wasn't big fish here anymore, so beyond that, the Champions League is the place to be if you want to play for Spain. Score a couple of goals in the Champions League and the Spanish manager will notice you quicker than if you scored 15 for Swansea in the Premier League. And besides, I'm more excited about Gomis, Bony and Emnes linking up that I ever was about Bony and Michu. I remember saying from day 1 that they just didn't look right together, unfortunately not on record though. I am gutted that we're losing Pablo though. As hit-and-miss and injury-prone as he was, he did create chances. As a final note, I'm pretty sure that the cost of the loan deal will probably already pay back Michu's £2m inital outlay. Even if it doesn't, add in the wages saved over the course of a season and it will. So whatever we get for him at the end of this coming season should be pure profit.
Glad that this is now sorted one way or another. Got tired of his petulant displays and half hearted attempts at goal last year. Contrast with the wonderful attitude amat showed when asked to play out of position.
