The man who was once Jack Butty passed on from these pages quite controversially when he was seen lurking around a Rum store in deepest Cornwall. The man who stated to us he was from the past had an iPhone and a magliite torch. There was a smell about this imposter that we didn’t like, so the inevitable happened.
This discussion was on the cards with the team’s recent performances. What would it be? Stick or twist ?
From the Indy poll ( checked ) there was a 55% vote in favour of giving Michael Duff more time. I was in that camp. Much of our football has been dire this season, as highlighted in last Saturday’s game against Huddersfield. Despite 19 corners, there was no goal threat. It could have been 119, and I still don’t think we’d have scored. Despite this, I felt, along with many others, that we should give him more time and the benefit of another transfer window to have a chance to turn things around.
All that is ‘what ifs’ now. Duff is gone, and it leaves the Swans in a difficult position. Not only is the club flirting with relegation but there is also the question of how the club appointed a coach who was so badly suited to what was needed and what confidence the fans can have that the decision on the next will be any better.
Duff had a tough break. We were the wrong club for him. He did not appear to understand the club’s history, witnessed by his statement following the 2-1 defeat to Bristol City, saying he would rather gain promotion and lose twice to Cardiff. His demeanour was dour. It was difficult to know what style of football he was going for; what was clear was that it wasn’t the style of play that the fans had come to expect. He was unsuited to our club, and the club should have been aware of this when offering him the job.
At the time of his appointment, there was nothing from Duff or the club, as I recall, recognising the established style of ‘the Swansea Way.’ This is very unusual in recent coach appointments. Russell Martin was boosted in advance for the high possession stats gained by his MK Dons side, and before that, Graham Potter and Steve Cooper were touted as recognising the Swansea style of playing football.
Duff had a record of success at Cheltenham and Barnsley, but that would never assure similar success at the Swans. Learning from this appears to be what chairman Andy Coleman was referring to in his statement announcing Duff’s departure. "I will learn from the experience of these last several months. My appreciation for how critical the Swansea identity is to this club has grown since the summer, and it will be high in my mind as I make the decision on our new head coach.”
The list of possible contenders is generally uninspiring. I don’t know what hidden gems Coleman can dig up of the kind that Huw would uncover. The one thing most agree on is that it will probably be the most crucial coaching appointment made in many years. The right appointment can turn things around. Despite our league position, we have a decent squad. A lot has been made of the duff summer transfer window. I don’t buy that. The ‘young gun’ loans have all done well. Carl Rushcliffe, Charlie Patino, and Bashir Humphreys have been excellent.
On our main signings, Josh Key has done very well. Josh Tymon has had a lot of stick, but I like him. I thought he played very well last Saturday. We were desperate for a left-sided left back/wing back, and Stoke knew we wanted him. £2.5m is not unreasonable when reviewing the overall transfer fees in and out from the transfer window. Long-term injuries have done for Josh Ginnelly, Krystian Pedersen, and Mykola Kukharevych, making it difficult to assess their potential contribution.
One of the fans’ biggest bugbears is Jerry Yates (above). He’s got goals in him, as seen by 14 in the league last season for Blackpool, who were relegated last May. With us, he has not shown his full potential, but my question is, does our setup limit what he can do? I feel he’s been lost so far as his style is not as a target man, and not suited to hold-up play to bring in other players. He needs to play off forwards around him.
Seeing how this team now performs, with the shackles thrown off, over the next few weeks will be interesting. I hope to catch glimpses – or even more – of pass and move, some creativity, pace of play, and penetration in the final third.