Potential Midfield Evolution

Given my previously stated admiration for Leon Britton (see link, below), and Michael Laudrup’s obvious preference for narrow wingers, I really think its time we thought about our best midfield and how we might be able to better be able to cram in our perfect 5 players.

Leon Britton – The Perfect Defensive Midfielder

Leon Britton every time has to be one of the first players on the team sheet (along with Michu, Ashley williams, chico and Bony in my humble opinion), as he controls the tempo of the game so effortlessly, while providing a great shield for the defense. I would then couple him with Jose Canas in the engine room for tougher games, and JDG for those that we should win more easily (or alternatively Canas in away games, JDG at home).

Michu would be the attacking pinacle of the midfield, with Alejandro Pozuelo proving a potential impact substitute from the bench.

Then out wide, and this is where the real “evolution” would come, I think we need to find a place for Jonjo Shelvey. The ex-Liverpool midfielder has already shown some undoubted attacking talent in a number of games but he is too much of a liability defensively to be paired in the centre of the midfield, at least at this point in his development. For now I’d look to add Jonjo’s attacking threat out wide, where his guile and nouse would look a lot more threatening than the restricted pair of Routledge and Dyer (who both look like they want to be beating their full backs but have been told to stay narrow).

On the other flank, when fit, it has to be Hernandez, his trickery and goalscoring threat are exactly what Laudrup wants from his wide midfielders, and he always look like he can unlock a defence. JDG can also provide back up here, as I always want his creative threat in the team and again think in Laudrup’s narrower midfield he can do a job.

I’d also like to see Laudrup try and give some of the younger talents, like Lee Lucas and Henry Jones a game, but for now lets focus on the ‘Perfect 5’.

http://m.worldsoccertalk.com/worldsoccertalk/#!/entry/henry-jones-a-swansea-city-star-in-the-making,51eb0cebda27f5d9d0fbc72f

http://www.swanseacity.net/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=389519&tcmuri=181107

Leon Britton – The Perfect Defensive Midfielder

I’m not going to fire a load of statistics at you, but trust me this is true, Leon Britton has one of the highest pass completion rates in the Premiership. If you don’t believe me look it up, it is true. When Leon is playing we seem to control the tempo of the game better because we are controlling the tempo of the game better.

Leon is a great defensive midfielder, not by being a crunching tackler but rather with his positional awareness. He never ventures forward, unless someone else is covering, or the attacking risks are minimal, which in itself gives the defenders the confidence to play more expansive passes themselves.

I am not saying Canas should not play for us, because I rate him highly too, and this doesn’t mean I think we should rotate them every other game as we seem to be at the moment either, as I think both can play allowing the rest of the midfield to express themselves more fully.

Infact I think England (not that I’m a fan, being Welsh) should bring him into their midfield, because with Leon in there doing the unglamorous stuff the likes of Wiltshire and Ravel Morrison would be free to attack a little more. Leon Britton is the sort of unappreciated midfielder England have missed since Owen Hargreaves played for them….at least Swansea haven’t missed such skills, and to think we brought him to the club as a winger!!

Good Point Secured Against West Ham…Should Have Been 3

So we secured another point, and against a decent West Ham side, who lets remember beat Spurs 3-0 and are talented enough to have a player with the skill of Joe Cole on the bench!!

We dominated possession, a really should have secured a victory, but I can’t help but feel pleased we didn’t lose this one. West Ham’s victory over Spurs shows them to be a very talented side and in Ravel Morrison they have the form player of the Premeriship (English anyway).

Which of our lads impressed,? Both Chico Flores and Ashley Williams looked good, as I wasn’t that impressed with Michel Vorm today (despite what I said about potentially playing him ever game last week). Leon Britton once again demonstrated to Michael Laudrup that we should build the team around him. Britton controls the tempo of the game so effortlessly. West Ham must have been kicking themselves that they ever let him leave.

I was also really happy to see Pablo Hernandez back out wide, he is the perfect type of winger for Laudrup’s system and suddenly gives us the realistic goal scoring threat that this system should see on each flank.

Worries:- Vorm looked shaky and Vazquez really looked poor – is Vasquez really any better than Lita or Luke Moore?

Flipping Goalkeepers

If any lessons can be drawn from the somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw with Russian side Kuban Krasnodar, then surely it can be that it is time to stop rotating the goalkeeper position and to focus on Michel Vorm as the number one.

Gerhard Tremmel, to me, was disappointing all night. Oddly his passes seemed to be finding Kuban players more than ours, while his command of the box on crosses had be worried and the less said about the penalty he gave away the better. If he had simply stayed on his line on that penalty there is now way the Kuban substitue would have scored, as he looked completely unaware of the location of our net.

Last year, what with Tremmel playing so well, the rotating made some sense, if really just from a fairness perspective. This year, however, I think we need to get Vorm 100% up to speed with the defense. Goalkeepers don’t need rests every week, infact their sharpness tends to improve with games, and I know would I would have preferred in a sprint to the ball versus the Kuban substitute at the end there.

Crystal Palace Set to Approach Welsh Manager Tony Pulis

With Ian Holloway’s shock resignation from the Crystal Palace managerial position, the Palace hierarchy have signaled that they have approached former-Stoke manager Tony Pulis about their managerial vacancy.

Why is this interesting to your average Swansea fan I hear you scream? Two key reasons: (a) many Swansea fans are Welsh and hence have an interest in future Wales managers, and will have considered Tony Pulis a possibility one day; (b) Ian Holloway, due to the possession football he now loves (apparently bought into via us), has in the past been speculated about as a possible future manager of Swansea.

Don’t kill the messenger straight away, as once thought about in more detail both these thoughts are not as crazy as first impressions might imply.

Tony Pulis, regardless of concerns about the type of football he might have played, has an excellent record as a manager – results wise. The possibility occurs to me that, like Holloway before him, this short spell out of work might have encouraged Pulis to consider a more expansive form of the game. Taking the Palace job would also be an interesting challenge, because we will be able to see at first hand, how he molds a team previously set up for passing football. How he evolves it, potentially improves it, with very little (if any) money to spend would show us if he has the skills for Wales. If he does a good job, then we can consider him as a future manager of his country, something none of us are too convinced about at the moment.

Then onto the more stretched possibility of Ian Holloway as a Swansea manager, unfortunately we know Laudrup probably wont be our leader for very much longer (of course I hope he will, but like most of us I doubt it), then the question arises of who is next. I’ve always liked the options of Sean O’Driscoll or Paul Tisdale, but Ian Holloway has been a long-stretch of my imagination before. Holloway certainly likes passing football, my only concerns have been his mouth and his inability to make great-signings. Other strong possible future Swansea managers include current assistant, Morten Wieghorst – in my opinion the most likely scenario, as I have a feeling Mr Jenkins has been planning this move for a while. Looking very far ahead, maybe we already have the one after that on-board too – Cameron Toshack – as we try to develop a real Barcelona style of internal appointments to really keep our beloved club self-sustainable.

Vital 3 Points Secured Over Sunderland

Relieved? Hugely. That’s three points securely put away, three points we absolutely needed. with the managerial change at Sunderland I was worried we might be catching them at exactly the wrong time. Worry over, we got the points in the bag and can now relax a little more.

Leon and JDG were excellent, and should now be the starting two central midfielders moving forward. To be honest when looking at all the media coverage about the England squad for Brazil I think they would do well to look at Leon, his control of the centre of the park is outstanding and we also need to commit to him going forward. I alos like Canas, but in my opinion Leon is the better player. Indeed, personally I’m quite happy with Leon and Canas locking up the midfield together, as it would allow the rest of the midfield to go and express themselves even better anyway.

With Jonjo missing out I’ve seen some bloggers/media sources wondering what about Jonjo, well he hasn’t looked solid enough defensively. Solution? why not try Jonjo out wide on the right? That way he’d be freer to attack and also provide a bit more bite on the wing….thoughts?

Great Result Against Belgium

A 1-1 draw with Belgium in undoubtedly a great result for Wales, given the current Belgium squad (which is one of the best in world football at the moment), adding weight to the tentative support that Chris Coleman has to carry on as Wales boss. I must admit, however, that I’m increasingly coming round to the idea of Ryan Giggs as boss, supported by an old wise-head like Eric Harrison, but for now marginal I favour the idea of keeping Coleman on.

We need to up the professionality of the management team, however, with incidents such as the lost-passport and falling out with key centrla defender James Collins not setting a good prescidence for the team as a whole.

The main positives to come from the campaign had nothing to do with Coleman, for example, and that was the widenoing of the Welsh talent pool. With the creative hub of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, coupled with J.Williams and Joe Allen we have the makings of a really good midfield, particularly if West Ham’s Collison gets his fitness and form back, which I’m sure he will by the next qualifying campaign.

Then, at the back, with everyone fit, we have an excellent line up with Adam Matthew, James Collins, Ashley Williams and Ben Davies, able backed up by Gabbidon and Taylor.

Up front is a bit bare, however, and this is why I’d recall Robbie Earnshaw. He is doing well in Canada, and until (if ever) Vokes or Church are ready we certainly need a finnisher of his talent.

I wonder what manager could persuade Bellamey to come out of retirement also though?

Wales – Belgium

Wales are playing one of the brigtest young teams in world football at the moment, Belgium, an excellent test for how this bunch have developed as players. Maybe this is the eternal optimisit in my soul, but I can’t help but feel an upset might be on the cards. If we are to upset them it’ll have to be Aaron Ramsey that pulls the strings. Ramsey has improved massively this season, and hopefully the Belgium match will be his stage to show the world what a talent he is.

Obviously we are still missing a few big players – imagine how good we could be once Joe Allen and Gareth Bale are fit again, and Collison is back up to full fitness.

I was very impressed with James Collins on Friday, he can be the rock at the back (when his mind is tuned-in, which the fall-out with Coleman seems to have done). With Collins and Neil Taylor at least we will have two very good defenders in there. Gunter can sometimes hold his own, hopefully Belgium is one of his better games, while this Cardiff youngster Declan John also impressed me.

I’m looking for Simon Church to hopefully impress again tonight, remembering how its Craig Bellamy’s last ever Wales game we are bound to have some passion.

Concerns – of course if a few of our patched up squad have off-games we will suck, and considering how good a side Belgium are we would probably get beaten comfortably. Plus the sligthly negative spin Chris coleman has put on his future leading up to the game – come on Chris, man up, give the nation some positivity or pass the batton onto someone who can.

Ones for the Future

With it being international week at the moment, I’ve caught myself wondering after the injured pair of Ben Davies and Ashley Williams who else we have on the books that could improve the Welsh team over the coming decade.

The current Welsh squad already has defender Dan Alfei in it, which is more a reflection of the strength of the Welsh squad I fear, than it is of Alfei as a player. Alfei has represented us (Swansea that is) a grand total of once, at the not-so-young age of 21. So Alfei is the same age as already established Jordi Amat. I hope I’m wrong, but I can’t help but think he isn’t one who’ll be playing for Wales in future years.

Jazz Richards is another one that is in the current Welsh squad, and this time more deservedly so (than alfei). Jazz is a useful utility player, looking relatively tidy at full back, although unfortunately this has hindered (imo) his development at his potentially best position, that of central midfield. Jazz Richards could be a useful central midfielder, but the only way he is going to improve is by playing regular games there and this has to be on-loan at the moment. Huddesfield unfortunately are playing him at right-back, probably the easiest position for him to break through at Championship level, but not truely the best position for him if he is to maximise his talent. I’d love to see us loan him to another championship club on the conditon they play him in midfield, or indeed abroad (to further his development and utilise Laudrup’s contacts). He could be a good one, but at the current pace of progress he isn’t going to make it big, as he’s 22 already and this imo is the time to already be playing regularly in the Premiership…hopefully he’s a late developer though and will prove me wrong.

Over at the U21s I see Scott Tancock, Gwion Edwards and Lee Lucas are in the squad, of these I’m most optimistic about Lucas as a potentially starter for Swansea and Wales. He’s a really useful little midfielder and one that I strongly believe should be given a run shortly. I’d start him in central midfield in our next FA cup game and try and bring him on in Europe soon, in a game we are already looking comfortable in. Look at how Ben Davies exceeded everybodies expectations when given the chance, maybe another couple of the lads could do likewise here too.

I’m also hopeful on young striker Kyle Copp, who has all the raw talent but is still very young. Hopefully under Laudrup’s expert teachings he can go onto great things, Wales really need some options up front, in particular, looking ahead.

Good Copp: the Story of a Welsh Prospect

Other players I like the sound of, and have read alot on include cultured central midfeilder Henry jones. This great write up here had me wanted to see him getting a run out shortly also – http://m.worldsoccertalk.com/worldsoccertalk/#!/entry/henry-jones-a-swansea-city-star-in-the-making,51eb0cebda27f5d9d0fbc72f

Liverpool Wonderkid Harry Wilson Makes Welsh Squad

He’s just 16 years old, and he has only played once for Liverpool’s u21 team, but Liverpool wonderkid Harry wilson is in the Welsh squad to face Macedonia and I for one am pleased.

http://hereisthecity.com/2013/10/09/five-facts-about-liverpools-new-bale-wonderkid-harry-wilson/

He’s fast, has a nice touch, a decent shot and an impressive burst of acceleration. Let’s hope Liverpool manager, Rodgers, gives himm a run in the team soon, lets face it he gave Sterling a game at a similarly young age.

Other Wales news, James Collins is back in the Welsh squad, having made up with Chris Coleman. Unlike most Swansea fans I am happy about this, we need all the talent we can.