Swansea have had a great season and definitely became the neutrals favourite when they got to Wembley for the Playoff final. Now Brendan Rogers has done a fantastic job and is definitely a good up and coming manager but how much credit do the fans actually give him for this years achievement? Roberto Martinez planted the seed of total football at Swansea City and Paulo Sousa seemed to continue that trend in his short reign. As a percentage how much is owed to each judged by the fans? http://sportales.com/soccer/the-final-that-brendan-built/
If I was giving a percentage rate to each of the three Manager's, the the Lions share would still have to go to Roberto Martinez, why ? well simply because he was the one that brought the Spanish style, of football which is still giving us the attractive and exciting game to watch, and hence why the neutrals have us as favourite. So here's how I see the percentages to each manager!.............. Martinez : 60% Sousa : 10% Rodgers : 30% It is only Rodgers first season, but let's not forget, that he has inherited the best passing side in the Championship, and that inheritance was not born of Sousa, but Martinez, I gave Sousa 10% for the way he coached us defensively, but was very unambitious going forward (Offensively). Rodgers has had the good sense to see that his success would come from, not changing the Martinez legacy, but to just strengthen it, and the obvious area was our front line, and Rodgers has done that magnificently, and I'm sure that his percentage will increase this season, though he is now going to have to dig deep, to show his managerial credentials!................ please log in to view this image
I would say it goes back further even , jackett did a huge job in lifting the team and the club, but Martinez did a great job and taught us how to attack and score goals, Sousa taught us how to defend, but that was at the expense of scoring, not saying we wen't backwards, just not forward very far with him. Rodgers is the man who can do both elements and has been a relevation , he has took us a huge step forward, I like his football philosophy , he is basically the best manager I have seen at our club.
Jager I would say it was the uprising of Flynn! He produced the backbone of the team which had progressed from. Tate and Britton are that back bone and remind the new players where we came from and how have progressed in such a short time. Robinson and Trundle were cracking players who was educated further by Jackett who produce a winning team. A winning nature within the club and some professionalism. I thank Flynn, Jackett, Martinez and Sousa for all their work! Without them Rodgers would not be in the position of a solid foundation and backbone of players who love the club.
I think that I would hold off from saying that Rodgers is the best manager we have seen at the club, it's his first season with a club that has finished in the top ten of the championship the last three years, and that says more of the player legacy on the pitch, and when you bring in quality from Chelsea to your front line, to a passing team such as Swansea, it's hardly surprising to see the outcome, many of us could have seen this last year under Sousa, when we were sitting in the play-offs waiting for our board to give money in January to strengthen for a striker, the reports then was that he wanted £300,000 for a loan Striker from Portugal, but politics between chairman and manager got in the way, and we lost out by 1 point to Blackpool. So while I am very, very pleased with Rodgers first season, he has some way to go yet, to step out of the shadow of Martinez, but there's no doubt he is well on his way, and this season will show the measure of the man, as they say 'cometh the hour, cometh the man', and I wish Brendan Rodgers all the success possible, pleased to see that our board have embraced the challenge too, well done to all!.................... please log in to view this image
Martinez brought in Williams for 400,000 ( I think ) , Dobbie for 250,000 , Dyer for 300,000 & Gower for free . A pretty well spend million towards our promotion this season . All managers have played there part though , least of all Sousa !!
How about adding Besson, Bodde, Scotland, Rangel, Dorus, as well Breezy! They are all Martinez signings............ please log in to view this image
Nope don't agree phil, whilst Martinez showed us the way to score, we had score at least 2 to win a game. you go back and look at the stats back then, the defence was a shambles, Sousa went to the other extreme, and wouldn't have scored in a brothel even if we had giggs Rodgers is by far the best all round manager, he recognises that we needto get forward to win games, he brought in Sinclair and Borini to this, had dobbie playing the position he should be, and continues with a good defence, our clean sheets and home form, plus our sheer number of wins attest to that. We have a great vibe around the club, the fans respond to him, the board works with, and most importantly the players love him, really he is the best manager bar none.
Would have to agree with Dragon Not only did Martinez bring in the players, but he also erradicated the 'drinking' culture that was rife in the squad and brought true professionalism to the club as far as preparation was concerned
Thing is Jager , you have to take into consideration what each manager was handed in the way of a team & what he was aloud to spend . Roberto won League 1 & all he was allowed to bring in was Gower on the free & Gomez on a 200,000 loan for that 1st Championship season . He couldn't even get in on the fight for Anderson . Later in the season he was able to bring in Dyer for 300,000 , thank god for that . Almost made the playoffs too . Then as a last gem brought in Dobbie for 250,000 before he left . Then he left us with 4,000,000 when he & Scotland ( a player he brought in for cheap ) left for Wigan . Jenkins started letting Sousa spend that money till he seen it wasn't being spent so well . Jenkins learned a lot about managers from Martinez & Sousa . Probably why he grabbed Buck & opened his wallet a bit . Rodgers is fantastic , but the Martinez Swans is what made Britain sit up & notice , on & off the pitch . Just my opinion .
Dobbie £250,000? I always thought that he came on a "free" or a token 25k ish. I think that Messrs. Flynn, Jackett, Martinez and Sousa all brought something to the table but I believe that it was Martinez who defined the way we play today. Buck has fine-tuned what was already here but I agree with Phil - he has a bit to do yet before he puts his own stamp on the team. He made some howlers last season in terms of team selection and substitutes etc but came through to guide us to promotion. Fabulous performance in the end and made inspired signings in Sincs and Borini (still mourning his loss). His biggest test is yet to come but I think he will rise to the challenge. He can help himself no end by signing a beast of a ball-winning centre back sooner rather than later. Bodde will add quality and steel to midfield; Graham will score goals and two other experienced signings should see us OK. Of course, Bodde and Graham remain question marks at the moment but nothing like being positive, eh?
Your right about Dobbie though Ivor, I could have swore we payed 250,000 for him , sorry about that .
No problem, Breezy. Makes him even more of a bargain, eh? Bet you're looking forward to the increased coverage we'll get in the BPL.
I have to say something no one has mentioned. what about our boardroom, Chairman. for having the forsight to employ all the quality managers we have had. they have gone with young hungry managers in the main. Who want to make a name for themselves and have worked wonders for us. so for me well done Swansea city Boardroom.
Agree fully with Phil's comments. The lion's share of our success is down the Martinez. It's because of im we play how we do today. So, we will always be in his debt.
Judging things equally - ie the first season each for the last 5 managers, there is an argument for all (even Sousa), but I make it equal between Bobby and Brendan as the kingpins. Martinez obviously gets the vote otherwise due to the extra amount of time he was at the club and chance to put his own slant on things. If Brendan keeps us up next year, hands down he takes the mantle.
Totally agree with you welshjack. It all started with Flynn and has progressed since there, we wouldnt be here now if he hadnt of signed Trundle, Pieman, Tate and Britton.
Yes but the other argument here, is that Martinez actually played for the Swans with most of the players we had at the club, I am not playing down his role, I would never do that, he was a fantastic manager for us, but he had a head start, plus Kevin Reeves actually found most of the players I believe. I still say that Brendan is the better all round manager, he has found the middle ground between Martinez and Sousa, and got us promoted to boot!
