Swansea City Thread

[davidge]

Trevor Birch has been appointed Swansea City chairman following the resignation of Huw Jenkins in February. 

Birch, 61, has been chief executive of Chelsea, Everton, Leeds, Sheffield United and Derby and will take up his new role in April.

He said the job was about "re-balancing" the club both on and off the pitch and will work closely with Swansea City Supporters' Trust.

"It's a great opportunity to build something long-term," said Birch. 

"Perhaps this is a return to basics for Swansea, a club with a strong belief in its culture, that was run lean and mean and building a fantastic reputation for the football it played. 

"I think under Graham [Potter], there is a real determination to return to that philosophy."

Swansea said their new chairman will be in "complete day-to-day control of all football and business matters" and will report directly to majority owners Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien.

A joint statement from Kaplan and Levien said: "Trevor's track record in the game speaks for itself. He has the experience we need and a business reputation that is second to none. 

"Quite frankly, he is one of the finest football executives currently in the game."

Jenkins resigned after 17 years in the post, during which the club rose from the brink of non-League football to the Premier League and won the League Cup.

The Swans were relegated to the Championship in 2017-18 with Jenkins the target for criticism by some Swansea supporters since the takeover of the club in 2016 by American pair Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan.

(BBC Wales)

There’s a mixed reaction amongst fans to this appointment. In general, I think he’s left clubs in a better state than when he arrived BUT it has often involved major cutbacks. The big test will be if the best young players (James, Roberts et al) are sold in the summer - as most fans expect - or kept to build a good side around them. If we signed 4 players we’d have a really good chance of promotion next season. What’s needed is a ‘spine’ - keeper, central defender, holding midfielder, striker - to come in. Think it’s more likely we’ll sell though.

[davidge]

First act of new Chairman is to tell all staff, except Potter and senior players, that he’s looking for as many people as possible to accept redundancy.

The downward spiral continues.

The only hope in all of this, given Birch’s record, is that the owners are getting the club ready to sell. There’d be parties all over Swansea if they did.

[davidge]

The Under-23s effectively got relegated from Division 1 of PL2 tonight. To be fair, over half the U-23s have played for the first team all this season so the U-23s are largely second string or younger age group players.

[davidge]

Today, on his 65th birthday, Alan Curtis announced he will retire from coaching at the end of the season. Next season he will be Club President and Ambassador.

Curt has been a great servant of the club and his goal at the Vetch Field against Leeds in our first game in the top division remains my favourite Swans goal.

 

 

[blue1878]

Looks like it was an exciting game last Friday. A 7 goal thriller

 

[davidge]

8 hours ago, blue1878 said:

Looks like it was an exciting game last Friday. A 7 goal thriller

 

It was certainly that!

In many ways it was a pen-picture of our season. We were really good in open play, created lots of chances but missed a lot of them. Should have had at least 6 or 7. 

At the other end, we are hopeless at defending set plays. Our keeper couldn’t catch a cold so just stays on his line. Our defenders aren’t the biggest so often don’t really compete in the air. We’ve conceded more goals from set plays than any other team in the Championship.

Still, the win kept up our excellent run at home and our win at Ipswich today ended our worst ever (I think) run of defeats away and made it a good Easter.

We've actually still got a mathematical chance of making the play-offs - but too late really. Still, ending the season only a couple of wins or so away from making them is a very good return considering our small squad and lack of support for the manager from the owners.

If we keep our best young players and buy 3 or 4 (keeper, 2 centre halves, holding midfielder, striker) we’d have a good chance of promotion next season. Unlikely to do either though.

[davidge]

Minutes played by those 23 and younger in EFL this season:

Potter not had much choice but our youngsters have done really well in the circumstances. Just shows how well we could do if the manager got a bit of support from the wankers who own the club.

[davidge]

Swans draw their last 3 games of the season to finish in 10th position. I’d certainly have taken that at the start of the season.

A lot of the youngsters have really stepped up and done the club proud. Given the very small squad and lack of back-up, we’ve overachieved this season.

A lot of the credit can go to Potter and his assistants who have us playing good, positive football.

Very unclear what sort of squad we’ll have at the start of next season. Owners/Chairman have given no indication yet of any transfer budget. 

We still have Andre Ayew, Borja Baston, & Montero on the books. None have done much out on loan and we need to get them out to save wages. About £40m down the drain between them.

A question mark over a number of other players as well. Will Fer, Routledge & Olsson  be offered new contracts or leave? Carroll was out on loan but is back at the club injured. Guess we’ll try to sell or loan him out again. Van Der Horn has signed an extension but still some doubt about him staying. Carter-Vickers is on loan from Spurs so no idea what may happen there. 

It’s pretty certain that we’ll sell Daniel James. It’s just a matter of how much we can get as there’s only 1 year left on his contract. We are also likely to get bids for McBurnie as he’s scored 22 league goals this season.

Our main weaknesses have been pretty clear. We desperately need a goalkeeper, 2 centre halves and a support striker for McBurnie. Just don’t know if we’re going to spend any money at all though.

Let’s see where we are by the start of next season on 3 August.

 

[davidge]

Vetch Field 1975:

[blue1878]

13 hours ago, davidge said:

Vetch Field 1975:

davidge nice photo

looking at the pitch made me smile,  Back in the 70's league pitches wern't generally very good not like today's pitches

[davidge]

Swans have refused permission for Brighton to speak to Graham Potter about the Head Coach position.

[davidge]

After rejecting Brighton’s initial approach, Swans have offered Potter a new contract in the hope of persuading him to stay at the club.

I think guarantees about transfers will be a more important factor. No news on that.

[davidge]

Swansea have released Martin Olsson, Leroy Fer, Wilfried Bony, Luciano Narsingh and Wayne Routledge following the end of the season.

 

 

[davidge]

Local reporters here saying Potter is taking the Brighton job.

Swans back to square one. No idea who will replace him.

[davidge]

Swansea expected to receive around £3m compensation for Potter, No. 2 Billy Reid, coach Bjorn Hamberg and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.

 

[vimto66]

Would you be sad happy or indifferent to see him go, latter end of the season it looked like swansea were `getting it together`, as you say back to square one, no loyalty in football.

[davidge]

5 minutes ago, vimto66 said:

Would you be sad happy or indifferent to see him go, latter end of the season it looked like swansea were `getting it together`, as you say back to square one, no loyalty in football.

It’s a huge blow to the club. We were back to playing proper football again and coming together as a club after a succession of poor managers - even though we now have awful owners.

Potter and his assistants had every level of the club - Academy through to senior team - knowing how they were meant to play again. There’s a real danger that will be completely lost if they get the wrong replacement.

I can’t blame him for leaving though. He was clearly lied to by Huw Jenkins before taking the job about the financial situation and wasn’t expecting all the players to leave last summer. He performed miracles this season with a very small squad and faced the prospect of yet more players being sold this summer and little or no funds for replacements.

 

The owners and new Chief Exec/Director of Football at Brighton clearly want to change the way they play. That helps explain some of the signings last summer which didn’t fit with the way Hughton sets teams out. Some of the players there just won’t have the ability to change to how Potter wants his teams to play. To oversimplify a bit, it’s changing from 1980’s style British football under  Hughton to Ajax/Barcelona style total football under Potter.

Keeper & central defenders will need to completely change the way they play, as will most of the rest of the team.

[davidge]

Brighton have appointed Englishman Graham Potter as their new manager on a four-year deal.

Potter, 44, leaves Championship side Swansea and replaces Chris Hughton, who was sacked last week after the Seagulls finished 17th in the Premier League.

Potter joined the Welsh side from Swedish side Ostersunds FK in June 2018 and guided them to a 10th-place finish.

"We believe that Graham is an excellent fit for our club," said Brighton chairman Tony Bloom.

"We are delighted to have secured the services of one of the brightest young English coaches. Graham Potter has an excellent record of developing teams with an attractive playing style, fierce determination and a strong collective spirit. 

"We are excited about our third successive season in the Premier League and we now wish to build on the solid foundations laid by Chris Hughton." 

Brighton have paid Swansea about £3m in compensation for Potter and his staff.

Swansea assistant manager Billy Reid, coach Bjorn Hamberg and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay will join Potter at the Amex Stadium.

Potter 'sold a vision'

A former full-back in the Football League with Stoke, West Brom and York, Potter took his first managerial job at Ostersund in 2010, leading the club from the fourth tier of Swedish football to the first, winning the 2017 Swedish Cup and reaching the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Potter was given permission to talk to Brighton after telling Swansea late on Friday that he wanted to leave.

The continuing financial uncertainty at the Championship club is thought to have been one of the key factors behind his decision.

"I was sold by the long-term vision and passion shown by [chief executive] Tony Bloom, Paul Barber and [technical director] Dan Ashworth," he said.

"The ideas and plans they have for the future of this football club excited me; I am thrilled and honoured to be a part of it.

"This club has been on an incredible journey and my aim, along with Bjorn, Kyle and Billy, is to ensure the great work that has gone before us is built on, as we strive to cement our place in the Premier League for many years to come."

Brighton finished two points clear of the relegation zone, winning only three of their last 23 league games and none of their final nine.

Hughton, who took over at Brighton in December 2014, led them to the Premier League for the first time in 2017, and they finished 15th in their first season back in the top flight.

[davidge]

Despite being on the ‘released list’ Wayne Routledge has now signed a new 1 year contract.

[blue1878]

What with Cardiff being regulated to the Championship does this now mean that Swansea are now only the 2nd best Welsh team in the Championship 

[davidge]

12 minutes ago, blue1878 said:

What with Cardiff being regulated to the Championship does this now mean that Swansea are now only the 2nd best Welsh team in the Championship 

In the same way that Everton are the 4th best team in the North West?

[blue1878]

1 minute ago, davidge said:

In the same way that Everton are the 4th best team in the North West?

I cant argue with that 

[davidge]

Looks like the owners have even sold the grass 

[davidge]

FOLLOWING ON FROM MY RECENT COMMUNICATION, I FELT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO UPDATE SUPPORTERS ON THE ONGOING SEARCH FOR A NEW MANAGER.

Together with Leon Britton, we spent last week interviewing potential candidates for the vacant post, while Alan Curtis will also be part of that process when we are in a position to shortlist.

We have spoken to a number of people who have shown great quality and Desire to manage this football club going forward.

The fact that we have had so many quality applicants speaks volumes on how attractive and well respected this football club is within the game.

We still have some more candidates to interview early this week, after which, we will have a much clearer picture on how we are going to progress and move to our final shortlist

It is important we don’t rush the appointment. But it’s more important that we make the right appointment.

I will endeavour to keep supporters updated as things progress, together with the search for a new head of recruitment, which is also ongoing, and candidates being identified.

Thank you for your continued support

Trevor Birch

Chairman

[davidge]

Swansea's Daniel James is expected to complete his move to Manchester United today.

The deal is thought to be worth around £18m.