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External empathisers were sceptical when Russell Martin was appointed Swansea City manager.
And after Steve Cooper and Swansea mutually terminated their working relationship, it was key to replace him with someone who could reunite the fans once more.
Cooper’s football was effective, but not pretty. He got Swansea into the playoffs twice, with the latter ending in defeat at Wembley.
With financial constraints in play and with the prospect of losing key players, the vacancy may not have been attractive to a manager with a bigger reputation.
Step in Russell Martin.
Think about it – a League One manager stuck in mid-table mediocrity isn’t the most attractive appointment for any club looking for promotion to the Premier League last season.
But Martin’s clear identity has impressed Swansea fans and neutrals so far, despite having taken charge of only several games.
The first ended in a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers – with Jamie Paterson giving the away fans hope after Sam Gallagher and Ben Brereton eased Blackburn ahead.
The Swans kept 72% of the ball that day, immediately showcasing in extravagant ways how Martin philosophises his sides.
“I liked some of the stuff in the first half and I thought we had the best chance of the first half.
“There were a couple of scary moments but we’ve only had three days’ work so it’s never going to be perfect or the finished picture.
“But I really liked some of what I saw. I loved the boys’ mentality to just try and do it and to not get spooked by a few moments.
“By the end of the game, it looked like how we wanted it to look with the other team holding on and us really going for it. That’s testament to the guys’ mentality.”
In midweek, Swansea defeated a youthful Reading 3-0 in the Carabao Cup, with Joels’ Piroe and Latibeaudiere on the scoresheet alongside Ben Cabango.
Many talk, including I, about Swans’ newfound prowess in possession. But two goals came from set-pieces in this fixture.
Research shown at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in 2018 found that teams are 0.7% more likely to score from a set-piece than from an open play situation, and Martin will be keen to utilise this – especially with the abundance of tall defenders at their disposal.
Their third goal, from Piroe, came from a high pressing situation – winning the ball back before the Dutchman slotted home.
That was Piroe’s first involvement in Martin’s first team, and has since emerged undroppable, earning comparisons to Swans fan favourite Michu.
Piroe’s strike epitomises the high level of energy required to play in Martin’s system, and why pressing high up the field could be a key sequence in his goal involvements this campaign.
“(I am) Really pleased with so much of the stuff we saw tonight.
“It felt like it was progress from Saturday. I said to the guys, ‘no game of football is easy’, despite the youth of their team. Ours [team] wasn’t exactly very experienced or very old.
“But they made easy for themselves in the way they played. The intensity to react when we lost the ball, their aggressiveness when we went to press, so there’s so much to be pleased with, but so much to still work on.”
Following the Reading victory, Swans hosted relegated Sheffield United in Martin’s first game at the newly named Swansea.com Stadium.
The game reinforced Swans’ need for ruthlessness. Despite an overwhelming advantage in possession, now-Arsenal stopper Aaron Ramsdale was forced into action just once.
A lot of focus was on the front three of Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson and Liam Cullen with their lack of creation, but Martin defended them as teething problems continue.
Flynn Downes made his debut, and despite the lack of creation on Swansea’s part, they limited Sheffield United to just two shots on goal.
“We are asking the players to play in a different way. It’s been a disjointed pre-season and not ideal, but games help. I think we need to add people to help us whether it’s at the top end of the pitch or the bottom.
“I feel for the guys who work up top. We haven’t had time to work with them. We’ve had less than two weeks with this team and the focus at the moment is on the guys at the back and in the middle. We still had good moments tonight.”
Stoke City would provide the sternest test in Martin’s brief spell so far. They did not succeed.
Hosting a side in a rich vein of form, Swansea looked constantly perilous defensively as they fell to a 3-1 defeat – although they did have three shots on target, more than the previous week.
Nick Powell gave Stoke the lead in the first-half with a header, before former Swan Sam Clucas and Leo Ostigard sent the visitors into a commanding lead in the second period.
After 37 minutes, Yan Dhanda was withdrawn for Joel Piroe, however. He scored a consolation, nodding in Jake Bidwell’s cross with 17 minutes to go. This decision, which seemed harsh at the time, could have been the turnaround in Swansea’s shocker of a start.
“The most disappointing thing for us as a group is that we conceded two set-pieces, so say what you want about the scoreline, and then there’s a mistake in there. I can accept the mistake. That’ll happen less and less the more conditioning we get.
“We had a lot of control. We didn’t start very well and the guys were tired. We knew this. This was our biggest fear before the game. We are not quite conditioned well enough to play the way we want to play, but we’ll get there.
“We’ve got a few square pegs in round holes, there’s no doubt about it.
“But they’ve been brilliant. The style of play and people playing out of position are not the reasons we lose tonight, we lose because we can’t defend two set-pieces.”
Piroe wasn’t fancied immediately, but alongside Lowe he impressed, earning himself a start in game five of Martin’s reign.
A defeat at Bristol City would have cemented Martin’s start as unquestionably sub-standard. But as the Swans fans rightfully sung – no Piroe, no party.
The Dutchman’s craft saw him fire a shot hurtling towards Daniel Bentley’s goal for City, only to ricochet back into Piroe’s path.
He tucked in the rebound, an effort he made easier than it looked, to send the Swans fans into raptures, which was common theme on this wet evening in Bristol. One fan described the match as ‘one of the all time great away days’ on Twitter, and it was clear to see the Jack fanbase were in jubilant mood.
It wasn’t a pleasing performance on the eye, that’s for sure.
Bristol City pressed intently after half-time and their search for an equaliser became increasingly desperate in the closing stages, with Swansea ultimately defending their attacks with relative simplicity.
Despite the result, Martin was humble, almost critical of his sides’ performance.
“Being brutally honest, I didn’t like some of it, I think it’s the worst we’ve been with the ball.
“We turned it over too much, we didn’t take enough care of it. We were anxious. There was a lot of tension.
“We’ve got a lot tired players, we’re on the TV and people are desperate to get that win.
“We’re going to improve on that. I think that’ll shed a lot of the tension and anxiety we had tonight.”
Many Swans’ supporters recounted the match on Social Media as one of the great away days. Many cries of ‘Matty Grimes, we want you to stay’ echoed at Ashton Gate with his reported move to Fulham close.
The Carabao Cup provided welcome solace to the Swans in the first round, and another much needed confidence boost in the second. Plymouth Argyle were in town, and sniffed a potential banana skin with Swans’ faltering start.
The two met in pre-season with Swans reigning victorious, but under a new manager with competitive pressures, the test would be fresh.
Swansea remained patient after a frustrating half-an-hour, including Jamal Lowe and Kyle Joseph coming close to lead through debutant Daniel Williams.
His deflected effort squeezed through ‘keeper Callum Burton’s hands to give Swans a lead, and Williams an expression of beaming delight.
The Pilgrims levelled just after the second half began. Rhys Shirley popped up at the far post to send the away fans into raptures.
16 minutes later, the hosts made the breakthrough once more. Williams, who must have impressed Russell Martin thoroughly, slid in Whittaker. The 20-year-old cut inside on his left foot, firing a precise shot into the back of the net from 25 yards.
What followed was simply an outstanding piece of individual play from Jamal Lowe.
The former Wigan Athletic man has had quite a poor start to this campaign, but his bursting run down the Plymouth left caused trouble beyond reckoning.
He was swarmed by five players in dark green as he looked to shoot but unselfishly squared to Whittaker who finished consummately past Burton.
Ethan Laird came on after his outstanding performance against Bristol City in a more advanced role, due to Plymouth’s tiredness, and was deadly in setting up Whittaker’s third.
His dribbling down the right-hand side freed space for the former Derby County man, who toe-poked home after beating a tired Argyle defender in the box.
Whittaker became the first since Scott Sinclair in 2011 to bag a hattrick in Swans colours.
“I am really pleased with the result and so much that we saw. We were really dominant with the ball, I thought we were really patient and we passed with a lot of purpose.
“We had a little spell for 15 minutes in the second half where we got a bit slow and sloppy, we did not take enough care and it led to their goal.
“They had put a lot of work in to the Plymouth players, who had worked very hard and been diligent all night, but the game opened up because they could not keep up with that for 90 minutes.
“That’s the beauty of having the ball and dominating the ball. The opposition get very tired towards the end, and it opened up.
“Some of the goals were fantastic and, on another night, maybe we score a few more.”
Finally, before the first international break loomed, Swansea travelled to an out-of-form Preston North End – another who had used the Carabao Cup as a welcome confidence booster.
We’d mentioned Joel Piroe earlier on, and the magnificent impact he’d made in his short spell – and in Lancashire, he sent the Swans fans into chorus once more.
A delicate flick from Liam Cullen threaded through the Dutchman, who finished like a man in serious form. There was no doubt.
Sadly, Piroe’s fourth of the campaign was the high point of a disappointing Deepdale display.
Within a minute, fellow Dutchman Sepp van den Berg tucked home like he was a striker in form too – albeit he’d only scored his first professional goal in the week.
He controlled, nutmegged Jake Bidwell and thrashed past Steven Benda to equalise immediately.
Preston continued to press until effectively the last kick of the first half, in which Emil Jakobsen gave North End the lead, and Benda no chance.
Another was added late on through Ben Whiteman, who curled a free-kick into the bottom corner.
It was another game which worryingly lacked opportunities for Swansea. Just five shots were taken, with two of those on target – and in the second half, they didn’t trouble Preston’s backline in the slightest.
“I am really disappointed and didn’t see it coming.
“We scored a goal of real high quality but to let them score so soon is unforgivable. The goals we have conceded have really hurt me.
“When you go 1-0 up it is a chance to establish some control and the opposite has happened. We did not look after the ball well enough and were not aggressive enough to defend our box.
“I said to the lads that if we lose in our way, I am ok with that. Today is not a way I can accept losing.”
Five games in, Martin’s men sit on four points, and in the third round of the Carabao Cup against Brighton. A somewhat disappointing foreword to what will be an interesting story. However, the story’s chapters are yet to be written.
Piroe looks inspired, and has already won the Swans’ fans over with his dominant style. He is a finisher, and what they needed in the desperation to replace Andre Ayew’s goals.
Martin’s recruitment will now be the true showing of his capabilities, and soon, we will see the real Swansea.
Transfer Business
Deadline day is the pure materialisation of money-driven chaos.
But the entire window for Swansea has been a periphery of unknowns. Martin himself did not arrive until August 1st, and only had a week to prepare for his Championship opener.
Preceding his arrival, Swansea brought in Joel Piroe, Liam Walsh and Kyle Joseph, leaving Martin with the tough task of holding on to key players, and bringing in his own style.
Jamie Paterson joined and scored on debut, but has struggled to produce anything else in his first five matches. Flynn Downes also joined from Ipswich, looking strong against Sheffield United once again on debut.
The final days approached with Swansea in need of reinforcements, and to keep hold of their main men. Both would be achieved, but maybe not in equal measure.
Outgoings on Deadline Day were the hardest, yet most inevitable hitters. Jamal Lowe had looked set to stay at Swansea after his excellent opening campaign, but the lure of Scott Parker’s Bournemouth and the south coast was enough to swoop him from Swansea’s grasp.
£1.5 million rising to two is widely considered a bargain for a player of Lowe’s quality, but Swans, as they signed him from a cash-strapped Wigan Athletic, made a healthy profit.
Jack Army favourite Connor Roberts made an overdue move to the top-flight, joining Burnley on a four-year contract for around £2 million.
Not only was Roberts a tremendous servant to his boyhood club, but an integral part of their first-team plans. More pressure now lies on young Ethan Laird to fill his boots.
However, his parting message to Swans fans was difficult to hold back the tears to.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts I write this message, but the time has come to sat thank you and goodbye for now.
“I have had the pleasure of loving this beautiful football club since I was a boy, and the greatest honour in representing it on numerous occasions, since I was 10 years old.
“I’m just a boy from a little village in the Dulais Valley, so opportunities and offers like this don’t come around too often, if ever.
“Once a Jack. Always a Jack.
“Until we meet again, in a bit Mush.”
Ollie Cooper also hopped on the M4 to join fellow Welsh side Newport County on a season long-loan, whilst Kyle Joseph did a ‘Grandpa Simpson’, joining Cheltenham Town on loan.
With Roberts and Lowe leaving, an indictable crater in Swansea’s squad needed to be filled.
Rhys Williams was the first arrival, on loan from Liverpool.
The Preston-born defender made 19 first team appearances last season, helping Liverpool to a third placed finish in unlikely circumstances.
His move suits both parties. Swansea receive a young, composed defender with Champions League experience, Liverpool loan him out to a side which will help him improve the attributes needed for their style.
Michael Obafemi joined from Southampton late on in the day, clearly as the Lowe replacement but with a contrasting style.
Obafemi is known more as a nine, rather than Lowe who tends to drift wide and deep to pick up the ball. His and Piroe’s partnership could be crucial to Swans’ progress this campaign.
The Irish international scored four times in the Premier League for Saints, including a late equaliser at Old Trafford last season.
Former Manchester City, Celtic and Marseille midfielder Olivier Ntcham was the last to arrive, with probably the highest profile.
The Frenchman was key for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon – scoring 13 league goals over four seasons in Parkhead.
His loan to Marseille caused controversy in French football, after manager Andre Villas-Boas resigned over his signing. He made just four appearances before leaving, and eventually being released from his contract in Scotland.
Ntcham could really star in the Championship if he maintains a positive attitude, and under Martin he will be playing in a similar role to his time under Rodgers.
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