But for how long How hard is it to survive in the premiership playing like Swansea. Swansea have quite deservedly received plaudits from the media and other clubs for striving to play an attractive style of football but after just one season the wolves are at the door with Swanseaâs players seemingly coming under a lot of interest especially from the larger clubs who by reputation prove to be a major drawer to emerging talent in terms of higher wages they are likely to receive and the prestige of being involved with the bigger clubs, so how can they continue to play in the same fashion and survive when they just canât compete on an even field. Other teams who have managed to sustain a prolonged spell in the Premiership have developed a more stubborn and physical approach and have at least found a modicum of stability but how long can you keep finding and then keep hold of the type of player that suits your style of play and keeps the supporters happy. We are not in the Premier league but with a little luck may be pushing for it again this season and given that we have a lot of new blood and have not much idea how the team will play so how would we cope with the above should we prove successful, Iâm using Swansea as an example only because they have provided ample proof that you can play that style and do well, at least until the big guns come a calling, I hope they do manage to unearth a couple more gems should they lose a couple of players and continue to be a thorn in the side of the top teams in the coming season, but how long will it be, if ever before we see a Swansea, Norwich, Blackpool or indeed us competing for a top 4 place. Trouble is the stable door is knackered and the horses have well and truly bolted
It would be good for the Swans to hang onto their players and show that last season wasn't a flash in the pan. Unfortunately they are liable to become victims of their own success. They should make a bucket load of cash which needs to be handled wisely with investment for the future (not just in players). It should be a legacy for years to come. That doesn't necessarily help on the field. Good luck to them.
Good points Sussex which I hope many of our friends from Swansea will take in the very constructive way you have put the thread together. While you have aimed to generalise your comments it is inevitable the discussion will revolve around the Swans as they are on our doorstep and everything we do is measured against them and the success they have achieved. We do not have the same local knowledge of Norwich or Blackpool although the Swans are nearer to Norwich in terms of having a well structured club, strong support and a core of Prem class players - Blackpool failed to qualify on all 3 counts, perhaps greaty limited by their small, old fashioned stadium. For the Swans to survive and progress much will depend on their ability to hang on to their best players and the playing style and approach of Laudrup. Assuming he wants to carry on where Rodgers left off (and I don't think he would have been appointed if he did not have the same philosophy) then it is key that he keeps Allen and Sinclair (one of whom impressed for GB and the other who didn't). He has brought in a number of foreign players which heand his management support know about even if they are relatively unknown in this country at the moment. Can they carry on in the same vein? That remains to be seen. The second half of last season, they added another dimension with Sigurdsson. They no longer have him so can the new guys bring something similar or better to the party? If they can keep Allen then they have a strong link with their style of last year. Without him I don't know. I know Britton is a legend at the Liberty but I think he will suffer a case of second season syndrome and get found out this time around. As for Sinclair, he did himself no favours with GB but, as I said last week, he could have been playing to a game plan which suppressed his natural flair and why Ramsey took the penalties not Sinclair, who is deadly from the spot, I don't know. Of course they are not a 2 or 3 man team and there are other very good players like Vorm, Rangel, Taylor, Williams and others but have they the depth of talent to keep it going this season? As for Laudrup's approach, there are rumours of bust ups with players already but these are unfounded and can be ignored unless something is made public. However, his management track record is not great (neither was Rodgers' but he did pretty well didn't he?) and for me the jury is out on him for now. It will be a real test for the Swans to keep their best players and if one or two leave and others indicate they want to follow then that could be the start of a leak it will be very difficult to plug. I very much hope they carry on in the Prem and wait for us to join them in 2013/14 to enable us to resume local rivalries.
Sensible posts which I'm sure will get some sensible responses (at least for now). I know it can't really be compared as its a different league entirely but in the past we've lost the likes of martinez, Scotland, Gomez and Bodde after our first season in the championship who were responsible for over 50 goals and a promotion but the following season we managed to finish one place higher. Then we lost sousa who took us to our highest finish in 20 something years and replaced him with a relatively unknown in Brendan. Then the following season we finished 3rd and won the play-offs. Then we lose pratley and dorus but sign vorm and siggy, both far better replacements who we may not have had if they had stayed. Siggy leaves, we sign la Liga's top goal scorer last season. My point is despite all the setbacks we have continued to progress and have developed into a team that is known to play a certain style of football. I actually think that by playing our way it makes it easier to find talent as there is no doubt whether they will fit the system or not. Fitting in wouldn't be a problem as all the players are known and expected to play to their strengths. Stoke do exactly the same but with their style. They are a big physical hoofball type of team so they go and sign crouch, somebody who will fit into it with relative ease. Although we will still try to unearth gems it's getting more to a point now where we are looking more towards signing proven players at the top level. Unearthing gems only occurs because a team has to, it's hard to attract anyone with great experience when you are operating on our budget in the championship. Players leaving is to be expected, it's who you replace them with that will determine how well you compete. And so far we have signed Michael Laudrup, Villarreal midfielder de Guzman, top scoring midfileder michu and a defender who was part of the best defence in la liga outside the top 2 in Chico. I think we will be fine
"but how long will it be, if ever before we see a Swansea, Norwich, Blackpool or indeed us competing for a top 4 place". ..................................that my friend is a step 2 far unless they get a sugar daddy like the chelsea`s and man city`s of the world...........even the gunners will struggle and they got some of the best players in the prem and the right manager and a steady ship financially
Yes agreed, it's near enough impossible now to break into the top of the the prem without obscene amounts of cash at your disposal. Money has definitely ruined the competition for smaller teams like ourselves but we can always try to build slowly and hopefully push for a Europa place in the future.
its all about the money dude>>>>>the chances of getting 2 a final through cups is more open than it ever has been mind...........hence the fact weve been in 2 finals in the last 5yrs.......the big boys dont take em serious anymore>>or atleast they dont see em as the cash cow compared 2 that of european qualification.
Am liking this thread - well done Sussex, a welcome change from the usual mud slinging that makes me instantly switch off. Agree with you absolutely, again, Aber - cash is king - just gotta enjoy where you are and try and do the best with what you've got. Just got back from the Blackpool friendly and was very impressed with the new signings, gonna be a struggle next season but should be exciting. As a fan it is all about the team you support doing the best they can with what they've got, and for the Swans, their best is all about avoiding relegation and remaining in the Premier League - we have to accept that we are a 'feeder' team whose best players will eventually be bought by richer teams - so we then have to find and develop players to replace them - who will then also be bought by richer teams if they prove they are good enough. Just the way it is, but still remain an optimistic fool; will continue going to games whatever division we are in and have ambitions commenserate to where we find ourselves - at the minute it is, again, all about survival. How do you see your forthcoming season and what are your ambitions? Would love to see you in the Premier League (hopefully whilst we are still there), and feel that Bellamy could fit this team like a glove - really do believe he is on his way back to Cardiff! So good luck in the coming season and let's have more threads like this on both our boards!
hows things cartoondude......well tbh im always confident in cardiff dude i think they call it blind optimism but i never count my chickens cos im welsh and a realist at heart......yeah this set up we have is looking better than it ever did under scam or the riddler and i dont think we are far off going up if we get the luck needed 2 seperate equals,my take is its gonna be a hard year again cos fk alls easy for us welsh but im looking forward 2 seeing them run out on the field again and try as hard as they can not only us but for our backers and themselves cartoon if you can keep picking up sell on`s and stay up you be laughing all the way 2 tha bank,but remember dont trust a bank that deals with iran>>>u be as skint as wrexham. take care dude hope you enjoy the coming season and good luck.....keep us a seat warm for when we join ew
Things good here Aber mate - how's stuff at your end? Don't trust banks full stop; just legalised theft - if I did what they do on a daily basis would be serving a 10 stretch at least! Think, and hope, you're gonna have a blinding season - will deffo keep that seat warm!
