OK, so I've just looked at our extremely hard fixture list that we've had to contend with at the start of this season to see what sort of results I expected : Burnley 0 - 1 Swansea I expected a WIN Swansea 0 - 2 Hull WIN - WRONG Leicester 2 - 1 Swansea LOSE Swansea 2 - 2 Chelsea LOSE - WRONG - for the better S'oton 1 - 0 Swansea DRAW - WRONG Swansea 1 - 3 Man City LOSE Swansea 1 - 2 Liverpool LOSE Arsenal 3 - 2 Swansea LOSE Swansea 0 - 0 Watford WIN - WRONG Stoke 3 - 1 Swansea DRAW - WRONG So realistically - we've lost 3 games that I didn't think we'd lose - Hull, Southampton and Stoke. We've already played all the top 4 and the current champions. The 2 games that are the worst results are Hull and Watford - both at home - both we would expect to win. So in my mind we're doing pretty close to how I imagined. Anyone else surprised by where we are after those fixtures ?
Yes, a little. Guidolin had to contend with losing players to the international early at the end of last season getting them back very late losing two genuinely outstanding players in Ayew and Williams who were not replaced losing 4 strikers and starting the season without a fit replacement - both late in it seemed Taylor, Ki and a couple of others weren't impressed with Guidolin and made it known on the pitch Guidolin shuffled his pack and by the time we played Man City in the cup things were looking positive (luck, a bit of confidence, a little more sharpness and maybe not chasing a win could have achieved points). Players were smiling, were organised, were leading and were putting in an effort. Some fans claimed everything positive about Guidolin's time was down to Curtis ... Curt is still there. Step up Bradley - return of the moaners back four horror shows players not knowing what they are supposed to be doing performances, apart from a half against suicidal and then10 man Arsenal have been lack lustre and getting progressively worse. I read today Bradley is laying into his players - someone should hold a mirror for him.
Guidolin excuses and bullshit Bob, Guidolin was the most experienced manager we've ever had and turned out to be one of the most inept. I think your just bouncing back the arguments used against the inept Guidolin Bob So who are the moaners and what are they saying? Do you mean players or contributers to our little discussion board? Back four horror shows, yep we had a couple yesterday wich cost us goals, Rangel and Tayol at fault along with Fer and Siggy, but on the whole I think our new back four of Naughton VDH Mawson and Kingsley are pretty decent. A back four with Taylor, Rangel and Ferndez in is an issue. Not sure who doesn't know what they're roles are, any names? and what did they do or not do for you to think that? Performances have hugely improved if not the results. Have you forgotten the utter dross spewed up under Guidolin? Agree with you Bob that BB should be laying into himself too though. He's in danger of becoming a one trick, one tactic, no plan B pony and we've been hearing that for years now. He's got to do more starting with selecting the best team ans sticking with it. Then he's got to cut out the sound bites and concentrate on adjusting our play to suite the squad we have.
Take your pick from the beginning of the end under Michael Laudrup where the Dane was allowed to carry on even after a summer bust-up involving his controversial agent made his position seemingly untenable, the allowance of cliques to develop in the dressing room, the failure to replace Wilfried Bony, Garry Monk not looking to add experience to his backroom when he needed it, the new deal for Francesco Guidolin when concerns over his management were already deep-rooted, the refusal to push for Joe Allen's return, the decision to sell the side's defensive leader, and there's probably more. Swansea have managed to cope with them one at a time for a long period – and it's not as if it's been all bad during that time – but hindsight does now show that such a series of slip-ups has eventually caught up with the club. - WalesOnline
Which mean what PGF ? any clue? lets look at them together Everyone except you and, it would seem Bob, knows that stats are meaningless without context. Add context to them and it shows just how meaningless they actually are So here's the context PGF, Rodgers did wonderfully well for us and got us into the premier league and he continued to do wonderfuly well for us in our first year in the prem. Laudrup did wonderfully well in his first year and won us a cup, before fading badly in his second year. Monk did wonderfully well in his first year taking us to our highest finish in the prem, then he too faded badly. Curtis did wonderfully well in his short tenure when he tidied up Guidolins mess and while Guidolin lay on his back, began our recovery which moved us away from relegation. Bob cant be judged after two games so shouldn't be included. I don't recall Guidolin doing wonderfully well at any time during his tenure. I recall dissapointment in his first coming and joy when Curtis stepped in for him. I recall dissapointment with his appointment and I recall how poorly we played under him. I remember players dissapointment in him, I remember being told the he was a nice guy, I remember his bunny eyes when he recited his catch phrase "I dont know" in interviews. Other than that, not much else. Oh yes, I remember now, he brought in Fer. Our Joe played well yeserday didn't he. There's context to put some fat on the bones of Bobs skinny stats PGF. Context is a magic thing because it turns meaningless drivel into meaningful fact, amazing thing context.
The change in the club's dynamic since the first reports of takeover talks emerged has only added to the pointing fingers of blame and suspicion, especially when it has come to transfer spending. The worrying break down in trust by those in the stands and those in the boardroom has not helped and will not help going forward, the frustration and tension now being felt by all when an united front is needed. When problems have been a long time coming, it suggests there's no quick fix. Swansea do have enough about them to find a way out to try and start again – but it's going to be tough and long. - WalesOnline
Bradley has only been around a matter of weeks so perhaps you can forgive him looking at different partnerships to see what might work, but the thought of Ki Sung-Yueng and Leroy Fer playing together in the deeper two of Swansea's midfield worried – and fears didn't take long to be realised. Individually, both have their strengths, but both carry similar weaknesses – namely switching off when it comes to responsibilities. It was exposed for the opening goal and it was shown up time and again by Stoke's far busier midfield, led – of course – by Joe Allen. While Ki showed a little bit of hope of improvement on the ball, it was undermined by the killer lack of cover the pair provided. It was a big selection call from Bradley and, being kind, you could see the thinking in it, shown by how Swansea did move the ball well when play became broken in front of them – but ultimately it was the wrong selection and should be quickly consigned to the bin. Such a choice after this evidence can't be forgiven a second time. - WalesOnline
I'm a Ki fan but he's ignored the part of his game that needed improving - being able to keep the ball and not be tackled so easily. It's always been a weakness and he must know this so why hasn't he worked on it? Laziness? Bad coaching? I don't know. Taylor is the one who really gets my goat though. On his occasional runs into the opposition's half, it's almost as if he realises with horror how far up the field he is and inevitably passes the ball backwards infield. You can almost predict it 100%. I don't see that with Kingsley. I'm not a player or manager but if I can see this, why can't experienced people? These are examples of the reasons why I'm worried - seriously worried - about relegation this season. Anyone can see what the problem is but nobody at the Club seems willing and/or able to put it right. I know I bang on about Curtis but I'm very disappointed in him. The buck stops with Bradley, of course it does, but here we have a new manager not knowing the Prem or the players that well if at all, and this is the very time Curtis should be having an influence. I doubt Bradley is freezing him out from what I've seen so he really must carry the can in part.
The point being if Guidolin was inept he would be our leading points getter in the PL. Curtis is often mentioned as being the power behind Guidolin but wasn't he the same with Laudrup? Monk? And aren't his duties the same with Bradley? The Curtis theory is only used against managers fans have a particular dislike for. I thought Guidolin was doing OK evolution over revolution. He also had not striker at the start of the season as we paid £20 million for two injured players. Our football wasn't enthralling but look what he took over and how he was screwed in the summer. Only my conspiracy theory, but I reckon Guidolin's contract was extended by Jenkins as time was running out and the new majority share holders weren't answering the phone (they've been shown to be unavailable when they want). When new owners realised what had happened they set in motion a series of events that led to Guidolin having a dreadful time and we still don't know where the press was getting leaks about Guidolin's future in the weeks that led to his sacking. The appointment of American manager and other officers was inevitable.
Can't disagree. But, against Watford Curtis was trying to get through to Bradley for much of the second half. I'm not sure who is was but it looked as if he was being told to get back to his seat ... he looked utterly demoralised by the end of the game ... could have been with players but it looked more like it was with the management situation. Don't be surprised if Curtis is made the scapegoat by our new owners.
I appreciate you points Bob but I can't agree with them. All the time Guidolin was here our football was poor, our players were poor and our form was poor. Guidolin came to us out of the blue. nothing changed after his arrival except we deteriorated. All I recall from Guidolins time is his catch phrase and the fact that we drudged our way through games. I disagree he had a terrible time here. He was terrible that's for sure and it irritated me when all he seemed to do in interviews was to go on a 'its not my fault I'm such a nice guy' offensive, especially in post match interviews where all we got from him 'I don't know why'. He created an image of being let down by sneakingly blaming everyone around him. ' I don't know why' (its not my fault), 'I'll have to ask my players and my staff to find out' (its their fault) so using national media to deflect blame away from himself while weakening and casting dount on everybody around him, especially Curtis, who have 'let him down' He may have been treated wrongly when reports came out that interviews had taken place, but badly, I don't buy that at all. He knew he was on his way and he used his notice period to self promote and exonerate himself. I wouldn't be surprised if he leaked the storys to the press himself to feed his nice guy let down image he was puching. He really showed his true colours imo, when he 'innocently' showed up to photo bomb BBs unveiling at his inaugural press conference. Not only did he turn up but he 'accidentally' walked into the conference room full of press and journalists and the continued to pose for photographs for 15 minutes outside the hall while acting all startled. 'I didn't know there was a meeting, I came to empty my desk'. The hell he did, especially when you consider 'his office' is on a different floor to the conference room. He went there on purpose, he walked into the conference room on purpose, this was no accident. He followed up his blatant self promotion by continuing his agenda by re-tweeted messages from duped fans, or dwas it his agent, who sent messages of condolence all saying how badly he'd been treated, how the fans wanted him to stay, how loved he was at Swansea, utter bollox in my view. This was another exercise to boost his profile and exonerate himself from the disaster he'd created, 'It wasn't my fault' see what the fans are saying. Well, this one doesnt love you Guidolin and never did. My view on things Bob and I know it's far removed from yours so I'll let you have the last word as I'm done with the two faced, insincere, self promoting Italian.
Can someone point out where Guido was screwed over? He happily accepted that HJ had control over transfers etc. Had he grown a pair he MIGHT have had the players he wanted. As for Curtis, he doesn't look impressed at all with our Yank donkeys in charge.
