The injury crisis at the Swans continues with news ( it was actually news last week ) today that Harrison Ashby is again injured and unavailable for the Swans for a ‘few weeks’ Well, we’ve spoken to a close supporter of this website and they believe it’s going to be at least a month.
Personally we are pretty unsure if a season like this with so many injuries has happened in the majority of twenty year olds Swansea supporting life. Naming the long list of injured each week has become second nature with the odd player added and removed.
Throughout this season we’ve seen injuries and returns for Liam Walsh (out injured again) Joe Allen, Josh Tymon, Kristian Pedersen (now at Sheffield Wednesday) Ben Cabango, Mykola and a host of others. It’s unlikely any of our three head coach’s this season have had their preferred eleven to start a game. Now with Harry Darling out, Harrison Ashby as stated, Josh Key, Azeem Abdulai, Josh Ginnelly, Liam Walsh, Jamal Lowe and Sam Parker all not available for Saturday, as it stands, we reach a pretty critical phase, not only with injuries but with forthcoming fixtures.
Luke Williams needs more time on the training pitch, as per Russell Martin last season. Their ethos for the way they want to play the game is similar to an extent, and in both cases it’s a very successful formula. Martin has introduced this at Southampton and it’s been a complete success this season. Luke Williams before he moved to Swansea exactly the same at Notts County.
As Luke says, "We need the time on the training pitch because we have to rehearse the actions and get very good at them, If we do that, and start to take the chances we create, we can be a really difficult team to play against. If we can expand those periods in games where we have done well, and we continue to create chances in the six-yard box, then we will be very unlucky not to start getting results. We have to concentrate on making the performance better and that will help us get to where we want to be. We have tough fixtures, but that’s the job. There’s no sulking or feeling sorry for ourselves, it’s about having the clarity in what we are doing.”
If the Swans lose all four of their next phase of Championship matches there will be meltdowns. And coupled with what we have seen already under Luke Williams, they may have a point. The likelihood is they will either be a place outside of the relegation zone, or even possibly in it. That’s the worst case scenario of course. Still fans have hope though, these next four fixtures are very tough. Hull City away on Saturday, Leeds United at home the following Tuesday and then Saturday games home to Ipswich and away at Sunderland. Only after that do the fixtures look more winnable.
The Swans medical team are going to be earning their crust for the rest of the season, much as they have done before now. Whether there is an issue with how the players train as some are suggesting we wouldn’t know, nor have we explored this as we have before with a true professional medical person. It is what it is, there is nothing we or anyone else can say to change the training regime, recovery and preparation for games at the club. We just know the injuries are affecting the clubs results along with the frustrating inability to convert chances or hold on to leads. Twenty three points lost this season from winning positions is shocking. Not outta g away chances, and the Swans have numerous in every game is contributing to the lost lead statistic.
Hull City v Swansea City (KO 3pm) this Saturday at the MKM Stadium, East Yorkshire.