Players We Should sign – Part V

Continuing the series of “Players We Should Sign” we once again look at the relatively cheap, but this time take a particular focus on relatively young players. Those that, if they turn out correctly, could have inflating sell-on-fees in the future and turn out to be better platers a few years down the line.

Swansea used to be very good at this, picking up the likes of Scott Sinclair, Ashley Williams, Vorm and Leon Britton from other teams and seeing them bloom, but the relative gravy train needs topping up, and here are a few possibilities that could help:-

* Federico Macheda – I don’t like to think that a player I thought would bloom on the world scale, just a few years a go, could be on his way to our domestic rivals for nothing (Manchester United having released him). Macheda is still only 22 and scored a goal-a-game for Brum last year (on loan). He has a fantastic touch, is strong and a very good shot, he would certainly make a decent number two striker to back up Wilfried Bony, who will be away at African nations alot next season.

* Conor Coady – Liverpool’s defensive midfielder finds his path to the first team completely blocked, at a very crowded Anfield, but this 21 year old kid has exceptional talents and could be the heir-apparent to Leon’s throne. Coady has never reportedly let himself down in Liverpool first-team training, but chances have been limited by the sheer size of Brendan’s squad. Coady has a sensible head on his shoulders, having captained England-U17’s to the European Championship title in May 2010. Conor Coady is a strong lad, that has the potential to be a very good central midfielder or even a central defender eventually. He’s good in the air, a strong tackler and his distribution is excellent, in keeping with our tradition. Wolves have reportedly put a £500,000-750,000 bid in, having been impressed with his perfromances on loan, at Sheffield United, last season.     

* Benik Afobe – another young British talent rotting away in a big-Premiership squad is Arsenal’s 21 year old Benik Afobe. A few years ago I’d have been able to write “young striker-sensation”, but as the years add onto the clock he’s no longer a kid and needs to be playing first-team football, something we can offer but Arsenal never will. He had his fifth loan spell this year, at Sheffield Wednesday (having previously had spells at Huddersfield, Reading, Bolton and Millwall), and was reportedly targeted by Barcelona in 2010. A six footer, he is rapid and strong and can play out wide or through the middle. If Arsenal potentially grab Michy Batshuayi from under our noses, maybe we should do the really financially-prudent thing and sign the potentially better Benik Afobe from their squad for much much less (his contract reportedly ends this year). Afobe has the potential to be better than Batshuayi, but hasn’t had the chance to prove it. Thing Scott Sinclar, but bigger and stronger and less bothered by the celebrity spotlight. 

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?

We Outplayed Liverpool

I have to say after watching the 2-2 draw between ourselves and the Premiership’s early pace-setters Liverpool, we look really useful and the lads should all (including Jonjo shelvey) be proud with themselves.

After taking an initial lead, via a Jonjo Shelvey strike, we let two slip (again via Shelvey, but this time mistakes) and looked the worse side. However, the second half was a different kettle of fish. We somehow seemed to believe in ourselves a little more, after a first half largely in awe of the names in the Liverpool team, we massively upped the ante in the second half. I don’t know what it was, but maybe “we needed a Winston Churchill in the dressing room and got a….” Winston Churchill (delete Ian Duncan Smith).

Michael Laudrup’s troops took control in the second half, dominating possession and really getting us all believing.

Lessons to be learnt from this game:-

(1) We are as good as the so-called bigger teams, and all the players need to go into the game believing in themselves

(2) Some juggling might be needed in the midfield. I don’t feel Laudrup really wants traditional wide-men, ala the Rodgers side, so mayeb rather than Leon Britton behind Shelvey and Michu, with routledge and Dyer out wide, it should be a narrower midefield. Possibly including Canas, who has looked excellent recently, as I feel a midfield with Canas and Britton would cancel out the mistakes the likes of Shelvey are prone to make at this relatively early stage in their career. Do we really want Shelvey near ouyr own defence?

(3) Pozuelo seems to have glue on his boots

We got a lot of talent now at central midfield

With the Manchester United game to come, and two good results against Malmo in the bag, we are in the strange position of having a lot of very good central midfielders essentially battling it out for two positions.

A clear favourite to start surely has to be our most successful passer Leon Britton. Not only does his presence in the team provide a nice shield to the defence but it also means that we tend to hold onto the ball for longer, but give the quality of the additions this offseason even Leon must be looking over his sholder now.

Shelvey looked excellent in pre-season, and I’d start him with Britton against Manchest United. Shelvey is strong and very direct, but does not let the team down at all in terms of possession of the ball, he can pass short and long, indeed he pings a lovely long ball, this really being one of his main strengths.

Then there is Ki, largely the forgotten man in recent months, but against Malmo in the second leg he reminded everyone what a talent he is. Cool, calm and assured, he will get lots of game time as the season unfolds.

Don’t forget de Guzman, the cultured touch and eye for goal, always make him an exciting prospect, but I just don’t get the impression he’s up to speed yet, so lets bring him slowly through as the season unfolds.

Canas looks like a real rival to Brits for the main defensive position, but again like Ki and de Guzman I think he needs a few more games before he’s up to speed.

Then there is the real wild card of the squad Pozuelo, this boy looks like he has creative juices running through his blood. For now I’d keep him as an option to bring off the bench, particularly as I’d be worried concerning his defensive contribution, but this one looks like another excellent Laudrup signing.

so for Manchester United, my midfield would be Britton and Shelvey, with Michu then up front bheing Bony and routledge and Dyer out wide

The Future is Looking Bright

So here we are, in the middle of June, and we’ve just signed a striker for nearly thirteen million pounds….13 million !!!! wow, How times have changes. I’m an eternal optimist, and sometimes stupidly so, but I can’t help feeling upbeat about the coming season. Top 6 not out of the question.

In Wilfred Bony we now have a genuine threat up front. A talented, strong, fast, two-footed striker, with an eye for goal, excellent heading ability and a great ability to bring others into play – not something that should be underated when the rest of the Swansea team is taken into account. I envisage Bony, for example, making Michu’s job a lot easier this term. Towards the end of last season Michu was either playing up front on his own or drawing man marking, but this year Bony will be occupying the opposition centre halves, allowing Michu to drift in unannounced and keeping his goal record above ten once again (I forecast Michu scoring at least 15 this year, Bony 20).

Bony’s acquisition will also improve the stats for Hernandez and Routledge (or whoever we play out wide), as not only will they have at least 2 decent targets for their final passes now, but also they will have more relative freedom to have a crack themselves.

Then moving onto the centre of the midfield this year. In Jonjo, Pozuelo and JDG we have some real creative flair, which when coupled with the defensive soundness and passing excellence of Brits, Canas and Ki (I appologise if I forget anyone, have I?) we can really look to control the game. This looks like a simply outstanding front 6.

Moving onto the back line I bet your expecting the “but…”, it isn’t coming, however, as even at the back – long a weakness of ours (particularly under Martinez) – I’m confident we can hold our own. Ashley Williams has looked better each year he’s been here, and looks completely at home in the Premiership. Then their Chico flores, having taken a few months to settle into the pace of the Premiership I was a little concerned, but now he looks our best (indeed one of the league’s ) top defenders. He has everything a central defender requires, absolutely top class. Then at left back we have two excellent players – Ben Davies and the fit again Neil Taylor – neither player would look out of place in the Chelsea team let alone ours. Moving over the the right back position it’s ever dependable Angel Rangel, the Gary Neville of this team – safe and sensible. His normal deputy Dwight Tiendalli has let his agent tempt him away to better things (….do you want Darren Pratley’s phone number, even Leon Britton could share a few choice words about the neck injuries he endured at Sheffield United), but not to worry Jazz Richards has served his apprentiship and I’m more than happy to see Jazz get more playing time.

At the back we have one of the best in the world, in Vorm, backed up very solidly by Tremmel

……….very impressive little team that, lets all sit back and enjoy the joy of supporting the Swans 🙂