If there is any mileage in this story who would you like to see replace him ?. I believe that Bartley is person non grata and we can't have Monk as a first choice centre half any more so it could be another position to fill, we had a steal with Chico could we be that lucky again http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2013/05/11/3969776/-?
I don't think any ex player should come back, we struck lucky with Leon, but very rarely does a second stint work. If Ash leaves then I'm sure there are many options out there in Europe that Laudrup can bring in. A couple of things though if Ash goes we better get a damned good price for him, and is there a sell on clause with Stockport ?
We bought out the sell on clause with stockport a few years ago(another incredible piece of business by the board) so all the profit from a transfer is ours. My own view is that he is off, big time Charlie in the last game trying to play like Brazil by being all over the park and not giving a **** about shape,leaving monk 1 on 1 at times when it wasn't needed! stepping up to take free kicks so it looks like he is another David Luis was also big time Charlie stuff, since when does ash take free kicks eh ? So all in all looks like he is playing for himself and playing for a move, his agent has done the press work(a few months back) everything is ready,its just down to if the clubs want to pay an inflated fee for an average Joe footballer. If he goes I will wish him all the best, he done well for the swans, but drop Chico out and goals are conceded ,same as when we dropped caulker out last season..goals conceded . The true level of Ash Williams is when he plays for Wales. The Swans make him look better than he actually is, if he feels different then good luck to him, I have total faith in Laudrup to replace him with better. How long have we struggled from set piece play at both ends of the field ?? losing him would probably improve us tbh. Its no secret that his height is a constant problem and he switches off mentally at vital moments, so im quite relaxed about the whole thing. If we can get £8m for him it would be daylight robbery, happy if he stays, happy if he goes
I must also add that I believe fesh blood will be important for us to avoid relelgation next season. Mentally its been proved that some of our boys are not up to it, its also a factor that there may be a "well we have done as good as we ever could in this league" attitude with some players, Ash being a prime candidate. New players will help us get our edge back in the same way the new signings got us going last year and collected points early on I believe new blood will need to do the same next season. In a nutshell, losing a few regulars will guard against complacency. Laudrup has probably seen a little bit too much of it in the last few months, while we have played quite well we have definatly lost a bit of an edge, this will not be going un noticed imo. Ash Williams is a good player but its probably the right time for him to go. He is soon 29yrs old and his hunger has probably wayned a little bit, battling a 50 game season next year may not be something he fancies IMO . For £8-10m we can get better. Maybe a loan deal for Caulker who has fallen out of favour or even put an offer in, it doesn't look like Caulks will ever make the starting line up regular does it? Whtever happens I have faith inLaudrup, look at the signing of Chico, Laudrup said at the time that he is a player that would suit the premier league..he was right! so he knows what works here and what doesn't
I don't see it as harsh mate, just an overall assessment of Ash really. ANOTHER TRIPLE POST.... SORT OUT NOT 606 PLEASE !!
I don't see it as harsh mate, just an overall assessment of Ash really. A classic example was in the Man city game, one of their players chipped a ball directly into our area,ash back tracked sunday league style and got zero lift to head the ball away, result being that the ball drops over his head straight onto the foot of Nasri (I think it was him) who thankfully missed at point blank range, that is a classic example. We very often only manage to half clear from set piece play and that is often because we don't win headers cleanly, size does matter!.. Ash has done well here but I feel his recent performances have been auto pilot,he is the kind of player that can only perform when at 100% when he is throwing his body in the way and playing on the edge he is great for us but apart from the wigan game and bits against Man city he hasn't been doing that recently, a player that does just enough and also a captain is not what we will need next season. Time will tell and I could well be wrong but im quite relaxed over the whole thing, it could be a good time for fresh blood
If you look at the Mcarthur's ? chance (in the wigan game) & which he should have buried Ash should have been tighter and he actually lost himwhen it was a man v man situation . he does appear to be playing for him self lately and if he goes then I'll wish him all the best .I'd be happy with Chaulker coming back as he does fit the bill and our style hasn't changed that much from last season when playing out from the back.Ash isn't getting any younger and if we can get reasonably big money for him now then cash in I say.
Taking Norway's demolition job into account,why would the great Arsenal, a)want him, b)pay £8 mill plus to acquire his services? Perhaps this story is meant to tease another mega bid from our benefactors up North. I refer,of course,to the once great Liverpool.
This was the chance when the player ran in front of him ? ash was totally switched off and the guy got the jump on him and should have buried the chance ,a better player would have that's for sure, he was woefully slow to react and his positioning was terrible,allowing the guy to basically hide in his blind spot when as you say its pretty much one on one defending.
We don't know that they do yet And don't forget they would have been looking at Ash months ago not weeks ago, I am more referring to his recent performances than those in the main oart of the season but I do stand by the things ive said. Also its well known that Arsenl struggle to identify top class defenders ... Even the most one eyed Swans fan would struggle to agree that Ash is a top 4,5 or 6 player and we all know how our boys fit nicely into our team but struggle elsewhere. As I said earlier when have you ever seen Ashley Williams be the best defender on the field while playing for Wales ? I look forward to your reply on that one, if Arsenal think he solves a problem for them then great, its not a demolition job on Ash just that we as a team are greater than the individual player and in turn it gives them a false standing. If Ash was so fantastic then why didn't he make it as a top level footballer until he was 28yrs old ?? all our boys have faults,thats why they play at Swansea, Ash is no different
I'm not knocking your assessment of Ash,Norway. You see what you see,and call it accordingly,and I have no problem with that. I merely suggest that if you see it,then presumably others do. Hence,why would any Club,especially the likes of Arsenal, waste their money on him. Liverpool,on the other hand,have a long track record when it comes to buying dross at inflated prices,and long may they continue to beat a path to Huw's door,chequebook in hand.
For me I agree with Norway, Ash is not good enough for us if we want to progress to the next level. Its mind boggling to see so many tv pundits rate him so highly. If we were to get 8-15million, then I for one would throw that money straight at Spurs in an attempt to sign Caulker, as he is far better than Ash. We have been fortunate imo that Ash has played alongside two really good defenders in Caulker and Chico, who do a lot of the donkey work for the team, yet Ash gets the plaudits. I would love to see a Caulker and Chico partnership at the heart of our defence next season.
I asked the question but to no reply Vetch, when was Ashley Williams the best defender on the field for Wales? I take your points, why indeed would I be right and Arsenal wrong ? well, one reason is that ive watched him play over 200 games( or however many he has played since joining us) where the scouts of Arsenal have probably watched him 10 times. I posted an article on here a while back with a guy called John Sitton, who was the Orient Manger made famous for sacking a player at half time and offering the others out for a fight, anyway, he has done a series of interviews on football recently and the guy talks a lot of sense, he was the blue eyed boy of the FA until that documentary ruined his career, and he talks about many things in the modern game.My point here is that he goes into depth about a certain Anton Ferdinand, many supporters have never rated him but he kept getting big moves to clubs ,Sitton nails things about him and his ability,especially as he has no defensive skills! the point is that top clubs kept buying him and they kept getting it wrong!! Sunderland,QPR two of the main culprits! surely they know what they are doing ?? Ive gone off at a tangent so sorry for that but here is the link, you should watch the interviews mate they are very intresting,especially when he talks about Swansea,rodgers nd Martinez http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZngrtVF583M So clubs don't always get it right because they may not be looking at every aspect of a players strengths and weaknesses.
Not many players have the stamina shown by Ash since he's come to us - misses very few games. Could we get better? Not sure we could - he has an off game now and then but is one of the best centre backs in the league. I love Chico and hope he will be at Swansea for years to come, but he misses loads of games through injury and suspension. If he goes - good luck to him - he has been a huge part in our success but at 29 / 30 he'd be stupid not to move to a club prepared to (possibly) double his pay for the season or two he has left at the top level.
I do rate Ash but he is prone to dips in form more than some. On his game he's a great CB. Lots of those 'throwing your body on the line' type blocks and tackles. If he goes he will be missed but I trust Laudrup to replace him with quality. We were linked with Dawson from West Brom and Eng u-21's during the summer. I wonder if he's still on the radar? He's very tall too so a bit more set piece presence.
