Just How Bad Is It

Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
A month ago or so, I posted (too "loudly" for some) not only about Andy Pandy's inept performance as a coach, but more importantly and critical to me, on the number of loan players, and that we were grooming the assets of other clubs at the expense of our own. It would be one thing if we had borrowed a bunch of world beaters, that had turned the Shit Streak around and were powering us up the table. But, unfortunately and obviously, world beaters at a U17 tournament (regardless of its prestige) does not translate into world beaters at the Championship level. And, these players are not head and shoulders above anything else we have/had on hand.

I have also commented that this past transfer window was a capitulation, tantamount to giving up on promotion. With the disclosure by our esteemed executive (An update from the chairman | Swansea ) that the club is truly skint and will be even more financially handcuffed in the season to come, it is understandable that the handcuffs are already on and we're doing the best we can. The current market value of the players on loan is around £11 million (Swansea City - Detailed squad 19/20)

Now that the January window has closed, we can take stock of where we are and how bare the cupboard is going to be on July 1. The following information is from the transfer market link above.

Current Squad --
I have added Cullen, Cabango, and Garrick not recognized as part of the squad by transfer market. Our basic squad is 20 players plus the three I have added. Red highlights are players on loan (30% of the current squad). Blue highlights are players with contracts terminating on June 30 (30% of the current squad). On June 30, 60% of our current squad disappear unless loans are extended or the players acquired or contracts extended for our current assets. Who wants to bet who will be sticking around to be coached by the hallowed Andy Pandy. I'm a little suspect of the contract expiration dates for our loan players -- I have not bothered to chase those down with their home club.

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Next Season's Squad
Starting pre-season .... on July 1 .... drum roll please!!! The cupboard is BARE.

Instead of taking this season to develop our own assets, we've given valuable playing time to loaners from other clubs that will disappear like a fart in the wind at the final whistle of the season. And, we're skint, so I don't see us acquiring any player for a fee other than loan fees. If Ayew doesn't stay then Bidwell becomes our senior pro, followed by Fulton, Peterson and McKay.

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When you've all finished puking on your boots, please let me know where we go from here .... other than L1.

We start the season with only 1 goal keeper with senior experience and a minimal amount at that. Rodon is our only "senior" center back. And the likes of McKay, Asoro, Peterson return from loan ... if they weren't considered good enough this season, why would they be any better for next.

Ayew has one more season left on his contract ... is this really true.
 
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CroJack

CroJack

Key Player
If we can keep Rodon, Naughton, Grimes, Celina, Brewster and Gallagher then with a couple of new signings we could have a competitive squad.

4-3-3 Starting XI

Benda

Roberts - Cabango - Rodon - Naughton

Dhanda - Grimes - Gallagher

Garrick - Brewster - Celina

Not too bad.

If Brewster goes back to Liverpool we have Cullen.

Who says that Benda won't be a better goalkeeper than Woodman?

Cullen and Garrick can also blossom if given a chance.

And if we are clever in the transfer market we can sign some really good players both permanently and on loan.
 
Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
The question comes down to available funds, squad depletion has been driven by this. We are now faced with a squad for next season that is ill-configured, inexperienced, underperforming and we don’t have the money to do anything about it. This is coupled with a coach that is similarly ill-configured, inexperienced, and underperforming.

Players that we could look to ... Fulton, McKay, Peterson, Cabango, Brenda, Dhanda ... are being under-played, loaned out, or apparently not considered part of our plans.

I’d like to be optimistic, but even if the Big-3 have half a clue, they don’t have the money to execute.
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Yankee_Jack said:
The game against QPR is a sample of what is to come
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But not if we change our manager. I'm convinced that the squad has a whole lot of talent that Cooper has failed to use properly. I believe that an experienced man would still be able to take us pretty close to the play-offs if not into them. We've all seen the dross being turned out now and I fail to see how Cooper can be struck by a sudden blinding flash of inspiration to turn it around. It won't happen.

It seems to me that he's lost the players in terms of match performance. They aren't doing it. He's a personable guy and probably well liked by the team but they play like they have no confidence in him. Hell, take Gallagher as an example. He was playing so well for Charlton we almost all cheered when he signed for us. But he was arguably the worst player on the pitch last night and, at times, looked as though he'd never passed a football in his life. Sure, the effort was there but the execution was dire. Would we ever have signed him based on that performance? Doubt it!

So what has Cooper done/not done to drag down the lad's performance to such a degree? The same question could be asked about Celina who flourished under Potter but is a shadow of that player under Cooper. And, no doubt, you posters could cite other similar examples. The question is, have you noticed it, Mr Birch? If you have, what are you going to do about it?
 
Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
@ivoralljack ... I agree with you 100%.

However, we are skint. We either pay a bounty to walk him out of the door plus his helpers, or we suffer until his contract expires. He is on a 3 year contract. He's here until June 2022 or we find pictures of him doing something unnatural. We will be in L1 before he leaves.

He is neither capable of developing anybody, nor attracting anybody of value to the club. McKay went out on loan to Fleetwood of all places to get the fuck out of Dodge. Peterson similarly jumped ship. How can it be argued that these players are not capable of making this team unless they've been similarly dumbed down as the rest. I remember in pre-season when McKay was looking one of our better players.

I can easily see Giggs having whispers with Rodon and Roberts to find a new club or risk not being part of the Wales squad.
 
KVetch

KVetch

Key Player
CroJack said:
If we can keep Rodon, Naughton, Grimes, Celina, Brewster and Gallagher then with a couple of new signings we could have a competitive squad.

4-3-3 Starting XI

Benda

Roberts - Cabango - Rodon - Naughton

Dhanda - Grimes - Gallagher

Garrick - Brewster - Celina

Not too bad.

If Brewster goes back to Liverpool we have Cullen.

Who says that Benda won't be a better goalkeeper than Woodman?

Cullen and Garrick can also blossom if given a chance.

And if we are clever in the transfer market we can sign some really good players both permanently and on loan.
Click to expand...
Gallagher is no guarantee with the way he was pulled from Charlton to come to Swansea. I do like Dhanda, he isn't the most physical god but he does create. Is it good enough for a promotion or staying out of the relegation zone I don't know. Garrick and Cullen will have a lot put on their shoulders. I would hate to see Ayew and Van der Hoorn go because both are the most crucial players we have. But when the owner's see the £££ and $$$ they will have the biggest transfer fees. It would be a big mistake selling Rodon. Are we going ti be playing for a lot of draws next year I hope not.
 
CroJack

CroJack

Key Player
KVetch said:
I put a bet on a win against Hull. It's a lost season but how about finishing about Cardiff on the table can we at least do that.
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It wouldn't surprise me if we beat them. Their best and most most influential player Bowen has been sold. But, of course, we have to play like we did against Derby.
 
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