Russell Martin does cut a most frustrated figure these days. Whether it’s him being blamed for the recent poor displays or him blaming others, or so it seems, these are not happy times. But of course the swans are still only nine points from heading up the championship table.

It will take a dramatic turn around in the swans poor form stretching back to last April - and even beyond to see any clearing in the fog for Swansea. The positives are only two losses from five games, and the two draws should have been wins. But when we focus on those two home losses, conceding five goals in two games it gets very worrying. Not only the loss of those two games against Blackburn and Luton but the way those games were lost. We have said it before Russell Martin just hasn’t got the players to play in the way he wants.

And it’s that almost arrogant way of sticking to his guns which will almost certainly lose him his job at some point. It cannot go on, and with two away games in a matter of five days or so at Middlesbrough tomorrow then Stoke on Wednesday, if they too turn out to be losses then he will be on the precipice for sure. Of course Martin has time, the very fact the club are not willing to finance much more until firm player sales are agreed is possibly his saviour. Despite his complaints of little investment that could well be the very thing that gives him time to turn things around.

Because to sack him now won’t come cheap.

A small silver lining on Russell Martin’s darkening cloud for sure. There is currently a potential for movement out, and of course come the end of next week we will know all about how much truth there is in that. But for Martin he has two away games now to hopefully show the swans support exactly what he can do this season. If he doesn’t and it gets worse the guarantee will almost certainly be any available money from sales will be passed on to the swans boss in the form of a pay off and his P45. Because this situation cannot go on. The season is slowly slipping away already.

Many swans fans won’t miss the slow and frustrating football style, and most certainly won’t miss the continual weekly excuses that things will be better next time around. It’s a shame it’s a perfect strategy for any football team, but the players are so lost in their concentration to play the Martin way they make walking football look rapid. Speaking yesterday Martin said "The expectation of the owners is to eventually get back to the Premier League. Everyone wants that here. In the meantime, we have to create Premier League players - hopefully for us and, if not, to sell and to earn money. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone”

Well, the the thing is of course Russell Martin has had nearly fourteen months to assemble his team, and regardless of the sale of assets statements we have been hearing for a few weeks, that isn’t the blame for this seasons form. What investment he hasn’t had from the ownership group has nothing to do with the players he has, his tactics and the way he trains and delivers on the pitch that’s where we should be looking. Martin actually has had more financial support than many give the owners credit for. To an extent that is. Of course had he had more funds and more support he would have far more choices. However, when we look at Nathan Wood, Nathanael Ogbeta and Andy Fisher, if the figures are to be believed, thats just over a million pounds invested and overall the standard of those players purchased is concerning.

Those three signings are average or below at best. Sorry to those guys, but it is the truth, and what we are seeing from them is not what we are used to at Swansea.

Nothing has been convincing this season, and the last ten games of last season were hardly convincing either. There has to come a time when good stock has to be taken and a decision made. it isn’t good enough that the swans won’t rid themselves of a manager because they can’t afford to. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to watch Swansea City play and when the team look across to the away end on Saturday the message will be there for all to see. The support is gradually losing faith. To travel from Swansea by coach and buy a ticket plus very basic food and refreshments will cost around a hundred pounds this weekend, and that’s for one person. Go with the other half or kids and it’s a huge amount to shell out. Money better spent elsewhere on a Saturday for many.

Notwithstanding its a twelve hour round trip, and around six hundred and fifty miles.

And expect the same on Wednesday away at Stoke, it’s utter madness to expect swans fans to continue to do this. The support this club has is outstanding away from home, the furthest any fan from Swansea ( and there’s loads more further west ) has to travel in the championship. It hasn’t been a good start to the season and there is still a little time left for the manager and his staff to kick start all the promises. But it really has to happen almost immediately or as we suspect this season will already be lost, and that’s so disappointing after all the build up, the talking, and the expectation.

And that’s got nothing to do with the US ownership whatsoever, that’s down to the manager and his players. All of whom this coming week are at a serious crossroads for the rest of the season, some people have had enough already and it’s still August. It’s such a shame after all the hard work that clearly has been done by Martin and his staff, we don’t doubt that at all. But now is the time for positive results and an upwards turn. It can’t come quickly enough.

Photograph Swansea City AFC

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