We welcome Andy Winfield to the Indy as our brand new and shiny staff writer. He joins Trystan Bending and Liam Walters who both contribute to the website as our regular readers know. This isn’t his first offering, some will recall one ‘Jack Butty’ well, he surfaces now as the original gangster, or well, the original Andy.

From jelly wobble to hitting our stride

After a summer of change with the appointment of Michael Duff as Head Coach and Paul Watson as Sporting Director, the club saw a busy transfer window to replace players who moved on.
Many wait for the first ten games of the new season to assess how well they think their team may do for the season. At this stage, the Swans have played 11 and are in 12th position with 15 points.

However, in mid-September, it was a very different position. Played 6, lost 4, and drew 2 for just 2 points. Some of the calmest and most wizened heads on this forum were calling for Duff to be sacked. The quality of the football was dire, the ability of players to pass to each other appeared to have been lost overnight, and there was little passion and insufficient aggression to impose our game on the opposition. The style of play bore no resemblance to what is fondly called the Swansea Way. It was a dreadful start to the season. A very worrying wobble, and fans were right to be concerned.

The results since have been a welcome surprise, as few dared to believe our fortunes could be turned around after such a poor start. From beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-0, we began the turnaround. The scalps of Millwall (away), Norwich (home), and Plymouth (away) were very good performances, with the team playing for each other, running hard, and returning to intelligent passing play.

The weakness in our defence over the last two seasons and the start of this one has improved. The last four games have seen the Swans score 11 goals with only two conceded. At the same time, we have goals in the team, with thirteen outfield players already scoring this season. Hopefully, the worry of previous years in seeing games out by hanging onto a one goal advantage can be lessened by more two goal – or more – cushions.

What to make of this turnaround? Duff had said that with so many incoming players, there was still a period of settling in. He also talked about the need to stick together. “This is where you see the true characters at the club. The ones that stick together, the ones that don't blame everyone else and whisper in the corridor…There's been a lot of change at the club. That's not me hiding behind it… It feels like backs to the wall."

All of which seems reasonable. Thirteen new players are a huge influx of new characters and football styles that need some time to gel. Not only that, the ten players who left in the summer are bound to impact the atmosphere around the club. At this stage, the new players are now having a positive effect. The loans brought in are the most useful in years. Looking back at Russell Martin’s loans last year, for example, Matty Sorinola, Finley Stevens, and Armstrong Oko-flex, it is clear that loan resources were wasted. In contrast, this season’s loans look like a much smarter investment. Carl Rushworth, Charlie Patino, Jamal Lowe, and Bashir Humphreys bring genuine quality and commitment to the Swans and will be regular team selections.

Along with the buys made over the summer, we now have more depth and quality than we’ve had for a while.

The international break came at a good time. The players needed some rest and recovery time. Our injury list of players has had two clear weeks to build some recovery and fitness. Duff has had more time with the squad to bed-in his ideas and plan for the next game. What a next game it is, too. Leicester will provide our sternest test so far. But we are better able to deal with this now. We are also at home and hopefully with a full house.

Of course, it is a game we can win. A draw would be creditable. Even if we lose, there would be no shame, provided that the performance shows what we are capable of and does not stint on effort and passion. So, those lucky enough to attend Swansea.com on Saturday, I hope you sing to the skies to cheer on our team.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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