Birch Speaks ... Encouraging

[Yankee_Jack]

Here is the statement: Update from the chairman | Swansea City FC

My first reactions are that this is a cogent and encouraging communication that openly addresses the current situation and presents first steps in a new order at the club.

Roles for Leon and Curt beyond the ceremonial will add immediate substance to operations in the areas of recruitment and other matters. Birch is intent on setting up a solid recruiting system that well not be adversely impacted by the departure of managers and coaches.

Recognition of Routs' value is expressed. If all goes well, we will see him resign for next season.

Potter's departure is understandable but nonetheless one disruptive pain in the rear end we could have done without. Apparently the Club is already receiving applications for the job. Birch seems to have a very clear understanding of the alignment that there needs to be between our football model, our players and academy pedigree and the new manager and fitness for purpose.

I'm optimistic ... I don't have much choice, it's a hell of a lot better than being bloody miserable.

 

[Borini]

To be fair the chairman's statement is reassuring to a small degree. Utilising Curt and Leon is a good move . His words about Routs were great, I would like Cameron Toshack as new manager. Let's hope we sell the dead wood and keep the talent. If any more youngsters are sold we will be in trouble. We cannot afford to lose any of them, they are our future a nucleus of possible good times ahead. Like Man U our class of 2018 can shine, the problem is there are no real diamonds coming through beneath them. The current u23s are ok but no one stands out like Dan and Oli did.

 

[Jackflash]

To be fair the chairman's statement is reassuring to a small degree. Utilising Curt and Leon is a good move . His words about Routs were great, I would like Cameron Toshack as new manager. Let's hope we sell the dead wood and keep the talent. If any more youngsters are sold we will be in trouble. We cannot afford to lose any of them, they are our future a nucleus of possible good times ahead. Like Man U our class of 2018 can shine, the problem is there are no real diamonds coming through beneath them. The current u23s are ok but no one stands out like Dan and Oli did.

Birch "I must stress that the new manager will have the final say on which players we eventually sign"
But that will put him in the same boat as Potter with no say on who we sell, which in the coming season will be a far more critical factor. once again a money orientated rule by the yanks. Are they really too thick to see that building a team that gets us back into the Premiership reaps far greater rewards, OR are they looking at a final seasons kill, by employing the selling maestro Birch, who raises a question from me, he has so many fingers in pies with clubs and being MD of a finance Co , how much of his weekly schedule time does actually he devote to our club.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Birch "I must stress that the new manager will have the final say on which players we eventually sign"

Is this say after the recruitment and financial “panel” have whittled a list that consists of viable players or is it after the recruitment panel but before the financial one or what. The word Budget is used liberally in the text. This could be prudence or hand cuffs depending on point of view or the reality of the situation. The new manager will not be successful if he carries champagne dreams on a beer budget.

 

[Jackflash]

Birch keeps whinging on about this £30M deficit hole. Maybe he can explain what exactly happened to the parachute money received last season £40M this season £35M and £15M to come next season. £90M doesn't just disappear.

 

[Behindthegoal]

Wages of Ayew plus Ayew plus Borja plus Montero and Bony (now gone) would come to how much?

 

[Jackflash]

Wages of Ayew plus Ayew plus Borja plus Montero and Bony (now gone) would come to how much?

But their wages would be subsidised whilst on loan over the past year.

 

[Behindthegoal]

Agreed JF, but to an accountant it's a contingent liability in case no one wants a borrow of our deadwood.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

BTW .... does the Man In Pub ... or anybody else for that matter know of any managerial candidates being escorted around Fairwood or the Liberty?

 

[CroJack]

BTW .... does the Man In Pub ... or anybody else for that matter know of any managerial candidates being escorted around Fairwood or the Liberty?

They are being interviewed.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

They are being interviewed.

Names?

 

[The Blobster]

Thierry Henry !

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Thierry Henry !

He's fucking useless



Actually, a very intelligent individual. Would he want to resurrect his coaching career with us?

 

[ivoralljack]

Actually he's now second favourite with Tranmere boss Mickey Mellon in front on 1/2. Not certain how I feel about this to be honest. What's he done? Does his style of football suit us? Could he be any good? Disconcerting to see that Cameron has dropped like a hot brick down to an 8/1 shot and I'm not sure why this is.

But back to Henry. His last post (Monaco??) was a disaster, so what will he offer us? Firstly, he'll command instant respect in the dressing room but that will soon disappear with a run of bad results. Will he be able to work with a group of footballers who do NOT possess the sort of talent that he is used to seeing? Will he demand things that our squad just will not be able to deliver? On the other hand, his very name would be an attraction to certain players who otherwise would never entertain coming to us - a la Michael Laudrup.

We know, for instance, that there are rich pickings to be found in the lower French leagues such as Mahrez and Kante. So would Henry be able to attract a couple of gems from there? Obviously a few pros and cons about his appointment but that would apply to any applicant. I just hope that we don't go handing out a lucrative contract to anyone without taking the necessary precautions should the new man prove to be a dud, as we don't want to be paying anymore punitive compensation to a departing manager.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Monaco was a toxic situation. It would have been a hiding to nothing for any coach. Martinez thought enough off him to have him assist with Belgium. I have heard him speak about football and he is intelligent there and on non-football matters also.

We have players ... Roberts, James, Celina, Grimes for example ... that have the athletic and technical tools to take on-board and execute. Like Laudrup he could also walk the talk but to a lesser degree. He has the Pep and Barca pedigree ... he's seen what a master does and the context within which it needs to be done. He has the Arsenal pedigree. Routs would appreciate this type of coach, and he would lead in the locker room. Unlike Monaco we don't have a bunch of prima donna's that think their shit doesn't stink when they play like a broken out house.

I see a similarity to Sousa here. I liked Sousa a lot. He did a great job with the situation he was handed ... bailed HJ out he did. Henry would offer a stickiness that could keep James around for another season.

In comparison .... Mellon from Tranmere ... doesn't fill me with a great deal of inspiration. And in front of Cameron ... really.

 

[CroJack]

Agree with @Yankee_Jack .

In the last couple of years Monaco sold almost all their best players. Even Jardim, who is a fine manager, struggled and got sacked. Rafa Benitez got relegated with Newcastle as well.

We can't judge Henry by his brief stint at Monaco.

Henry definitely knows how to play attractive, attacking football and that's what I am interested in. He is young and hungry, he speaks English fluently, he knows what it needs to become a top player and would add that star dust we haven't had at Swansea since Laudrup. I would take him.

 

[Jackflash]

Actually he's now second favourite with Tranmere boss Mickey Mellon in front on 1/2. Not certain how I feel about this to be honest. What's he done? Does his style of football suit us? Could he be any good? Disconcerting to see that Cameron has dropped like a hot brick down to an 8/1 shot and I'm not sure why this is.

But back to Henry. His last post (Monaco??) was a disaster, so what will he offer us? Firstly, he'll command instant respect in the dressing room but that will soon disappear with a run of bad results. Will he be able to work with a group of footballers who do NOT possess the sort of talent that he is used to seeing? Will he demand things that our squad just will not be able to deliver? On the other hand, his very name would be an attraction to certain players who otherwise would never entertain coming to us - a la Michael Laudrup.

We know, for instance, that there are rich pickings to be found in the lower French leagues such as Mahrez and Kante. So would Henry be able to attract a couple of gems from there? Obviously a few pros and cons about his appointment but that would apply to any applicant. I just hope that we don't go handing out a lucrative contract to anyone without taking the necessary precautions should the new man prove to be a dud, as we don't want to be paying anymore punitive compensation to a departing manager.

You make a few good points Ivor,pretty sure he (Henry) would have the Laudrup effect, maybe to a slightly lesser degree as we are not in the Prem, also even though it may not be to him, Cameron staying with the academy would certainly be a great advantage, last season was a glaring example of how a academy coach and first team coach complimented each other, a great example of how easily the youngsters adapted to the first team is a credit to him. In the event of Henry getting the job, pretty sure Cameron and Richards would have them 'Henry Style' ready in no time, Also Henry having the job would hopefully bring in a couple of 'old head experience' players to steady the boat.

 

[jackodiamonds]

If Henry is interested, then I think it's a good sign he's willing to join a Championship club. It shows he's taking his managerial career seriously, not expecting to be handed another top job on his reputation as a player alone. Especially off the back of the failed Monaco stint - it takes humility to drop down a level.

 

[Behindthegoal]

There you are! Three things he can teach our boys. Falling in agony if you're as much as breathed on, scoring vital goals with the hand and this new found trait humility. I'm not so sure the third transfers to the pitch, and as a lover of sportsmanship I certainly don't want to see the first two.
But seriously, I would welcome the young man here with his ability to motivate and, hopefully, attract good quality loanees.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Not sure if humility is the correct sensibility here, more pragmatism and the sense that they have the tools not necessarily the experience and ... wisdom, which only comes with adversity, meeting challenge and growth. Lampard and Xavi were both great players. Both have started their careers in coaching in lesser leagues. There are other examples.

I think there's a lot to be said for a coach undertaking or assuming a project. Martinez undertook a project. Sousa took on the project that had been adversely impacted by Martinez' departure and the loss of Scotland, Gomez, and Bodde. Same with Rogers ... recognized the project and added to it. Same with Laudrup ... saw that he could add value without being disruptive (the key word). It's when the newbie coach has delusions of grandeur (e.g. Monk) or is coaching scared (e.g. Clement) that problems arise.

We have a new project ... the revitalization of Swanselona through the graduation of the U23 cohort maturing as a unit ... quality individuals, schooled the right way, athletic, technically very strong and dominant in the UK at their U-age group. Henry would have a platform. He would be assuming a project incubated by Cameron / Richards over the previous five years and that came of age through Potter ... who frankly didn't have much of a choice. If he's smart, which I think he is, Henry must recognize the opportunity to add value here and do it the smart way .... I'm sure he's talked to Martinez about it. Bielsa thought a lot of us last season ... perhaps he could come here.