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Post by alarch on Aug 1, 2016 16:13:04 GMT
The time to judge events at the Liberty will be when the transfer window closes. There are far too many rushing to judgement based on a situation that is in flux. Swansea have always been run on a prudent basis, unlike most clubs in the Premier League and Championship. That may cost the club in time, perhaps this season, but I don't see merit in spending money you haven't got, for the sake of short-term gain. Of course, it makes survival that much harder when you're up against clubs that spend money willy nilly - but so be it. I was very disappointed that Swansea didn't push the boat out further when it came to Joe Allen, not least because Swansea's excellent record on injury prevention (second only to Leicester last season and one of the best the previous season) would have been great for Joe and Wales. But when there's a limited amount available and you have just about no strikers, and you're well stocked in midfield, the club's priorities are understandable, even if I don't agree with them.
Anyway, if the worst comes to the worst, and both Williams and Fernandez leave, then the silver lining is that Joe Rodon might get some game time this season. Don't hold your breath mind...
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Post by toshfan on Aug 1, 2016 16:22:08 GMT
Whether Ash leaves or not, James Chester should be signed by the club.
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Post by llannerch on Aug 1, 2016 20:47:18 GMT
They need a relegation to reinvent themselves in the same way West Ham have. Massive public subsidies in the shape of the Olympic Stadium have helped |
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Post by bale-droed on Aug 1, 2016 21:00:36 GMT
They need a relegation to reinvent themselves in the same way West Ham have. Massive public subsidies in the shape of the Olympic Stadium have helped Maybe the city of Swansea should bid for the olympics in 2024? Get Kev Allen to do the opening ceremony. I can see it now |
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Post by llan123 on Aug 1, 2016 22:50:01 GMT
Whether Ash leaves or not, James Chester should be signed by the club. Not just Swansea but any club in the bottom 10 could have done a lot worse than signing Chester, hugely surprised that he has had to drop down to the Championship. |
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Post by Jamie-Bins on Aug 1, 2016 23:08:10 GMT
Forgot I even followed club football after the last 8/9 weeks, but I do follow everton and would ash to join us
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Post by welshiron on Aug 2, 2016 12:22:56 GMT
As things stand a move to Everton would purely be for the money unless he can see serious problems ahead for Swansea.
I still think he may be waiting to see if Arsenal come in for him as they do need a centre half and if he leaves for them nobody could blame him. Would be good to see him tested in the Champions league
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Post by mrpicton79 on Aug 2, 2016 19:03:49 GMT
Whether Ash leaves or not, James Chester should be signed by the club. Not just Swansea but any club in the bottom 10 could have done a lot worse than signing Chester, hugely surprised that he has had to drop down to the Championship. Championship? |
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Post by llan123 on Aug 2, 2016 19:34:27 GMT
Not just Swansea but any club in the bottom 10 could have done a lot worse than signing Chester, hugely surprised that he has had to drop down to the Championship. Championship? Thought his move to Derby was nailed on, looks like he's staying now. |
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Post by ontheroadagain on Aug 2, 2016 20:53:12 GMT
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Post by gwernybwch on Aug 2, 2016 21:28:43 GMT
I'm surprised that Swansea have turned down the offer of £10m for a 32 year old.
Whilst AW has been fantastic for Wales, I got the impression at the end of the season and during the Euro's that he was starting to lose pace and fitness levels. When those go in your thirties, they tend not to return.
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Post by manulike on Aug 2, 2016 22:08:09 GMT
A club spokesman said: "We are not looking to sell him and therefore we have turned down the offer currently on the table." To me, that sounds like they are leaving the door open to higher offers - sensing that everton might have a lot of disposible money on their hands, if they sell Stone... |
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Post by manulike on Aug 3, 2016 10:39:17 GMT
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Post by dai on Aug 3, 2016 11:43:03 GMT
Really? Seems like very negative talk to me, and just making excuses for how poor they've been in the transfer market - pretty much every other club has been doing business apart from them. I do appreciate how they want to bring through youngsters by cutting the squad, but that statement is only going to annoy fans who desperately want to see some new faces and signings. And how many youngsters have they actually brought through in the past 3 years? Frustrating tbh. I know they're not the richest club in the world, but I can't help thinking they 'could' perform better in the transfer market. However if they only have the option of selling and bringing through youngsters, they will struggle this season. |
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Post by ontheroadagain on Aug 9, 2016 11:37:25 GMT
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Post by dai on Aug 9, 2016 11:51:25 GMT
I see Swansea are still doing all they can to be prepared for life in the Championship.
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Post by squatter1 on Aug 9, 2016 12:01:14 GMT
Good money for his age for Swansea. But an incredibly difficult player to replace.
I have to say that I'm worried about the direction the Swans are going - correct me if I'm wrong. A few years ago they were showing the way for smaller clubs to be successful: A progressive, entertaining and successful brand of football passed from manager to manager. A club owned and run by a coalition of local businessmen and local fans. A club that always had the next move for a manager and a gem of a player ready to roll.
Now, however, and most of these things seem to have fallen away.
The 'Swansalona' football brand went when Gary Monk took over (although perhaps that has been returning since?) and tyhe style has been increasingly similar to your average bog-standard relegation candidate (ie, sitting deep and hoping to nick something on the counter).
The club is about to sell out to foreign investors, which almost inevitably means the focus is on profit and dividends, not on long term development.
And instead of having the next move always up their sleeve, things seem to happen haphazard and last minute - Monk sacked with no one lined up to replace him, and now Williams likely on the out with a week to go before the beginning of the season, and who the hell have they got lined up to replace him?
I really hope they have a great season, but I wouldn't be surprised if Williams goes if they are in a relegation fight again.
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Post by manulike on Aug 9, 2016 12:11:05 GMT
48m for John Stones and only 12m for Ash - go figure!
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Post by larslagerback on Aug 9, 2016 12:38:08 GMT
48m for John Stones and only 12m for Ash - go figure! Age. And maybe length if contract. But with all that said, there's not £26m difference. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2016 14:02:05 GMT
What is Koeman like with regards to international football? I guess we have been able to take it for granted that if he is fit Williams will turn up even if no-one else does no doubt helped by playing for a Welsh club.
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Post by squatter1 on Aug 9, 2016 14:23:06 GMT
What is Koeman like with regards to international football? I guess we have been able to take it for granted that if he is fit Williams will turn up even if no-one else does no doubt helped by playing for a Welsh club. I honestly think that is an issue from a past era now. Player power is all today. |
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Post by marsvolta on Aug 9, 2016 18:32:15 GMT
48m for John Stones and only 12m for Ash - go figure! Age. And maybe length if contract. But with all that said, there's not £26m difference. You're right, there's £36m difference |
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Post by ontheroadagain on Aug 9, 2016 19:18:29 GMT
48m for John Stones and only 12m for Ash - go figure! But what price have Swansea put on the leadership qualities that they will lose? Will Swansea now go for Chester? |
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Post by cadno on Aug 9, 2016 23:27:31 GMT
48m for John Stones and only 12m for Ash - go figure! But what price have Swansea put on the leadership qualities that they will lose? Will Swansea now go for Chester? Middlesbrough are interested in signing him apparently. If he stays at WBA let's hope he plays every week and preferably as a Centre back! |
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Post by richierich333 on Aug 10, 2016 7:41:40 GMT
Question to the Swans fans: Doesn't Swansea seem to be selling all of their players and not bringing much in as replacement? This is not good apart from financially for the owners. Hopefully they will bring in better than they have sold but Ash and Ayew? Big shoes to fill. Hopefully they can get Bony back at a bargain which would be excellent business.
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Post by gorechwarecydchware on Aug 10, 2016 10:33:27 GMT
From the outside it probably does look bad for Swansea, but the reality is very different. Losing Gomis & Paloschi is a relief and selling Ayew for £20m is great business (he was a square peg in a round hole in all honesty) - replacing them with Llorente and likely Baston is very exciting and they should suit us much better.
The fact the club now has Category 1 status for it's training academy should set the foundations for the future of the club, HJ should be praised for prioritising this over the stadium. Look out for Modou Barrow this season, big things are expected from him and this could be break through season. Kingsley should compete with Taylor at full back and McBurnie should be ample cover up top.
Replacing Williams will be tricky, we have got Amat who'd been waiting patiently for some time, I'm not convinced he's the natural replacement for Ash so really we need to prioritise a centre back in this window.
I expect Siggy to be made captain but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Cork. Anyone else and I'd be surprised because I don't Leon or Rangel being regular starters so I doubt they'd get the armband
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Post by jonnylitts on Aug 10, 2016 12:11:56 GMT
Stupid for them to sell him for so little. Everton have £50m sloshing around yet they managed to bag Williams for £12m. Very shrewd piece of business for them but Swansea need to replace the irreplaceable (in 20 days). He's not just their best defender (by far) but he's their leader and captain!
If they deemed him replaceable then they should have got at least £20m for him. Or let him see out his next two years...
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Post by osprey on Aug 10, 2016 12:54:35 GMT
Bought for 500k had probably all his best years at the club and then sold for 11.5 million profit. Great bit of business IMHO. Club have stated they only want players who wish to be at the club, no point keeping anybody that has aspirations for a new challenge even Ash unfortunately.
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Post by alarch on Aug 10, 2016 13:19:05 GMT
Swansea have rarely, if ever, played hard-ball with want-away players. That may mean they get smaller transfer fees as a result - but it benefits the club in the long-run, in that it helps to attract the likes of Ayew, who see Swansea as a stepping stone to "greater" things. £12 million is a decent fee for a player who's best days lie behind him, and is unlikely to command a better fee down the line. So comparisons with the likes of Stones - who is only 22 and has his future in front of him - are meaningless.
Swansea have done well to hang on to Williams for as long as they have (he nearly left in January - which could well have resulted in Swansea's relegation), so though I'm sad to see him go, the writing was on the wall. Replacing his leadership abilities will be the biggest challenge, and there's no obvious strong alternative. Siggurdsson is likely to get the nod, but more for his example than any obvious leadership credentials.
I hope Swansea go in for Chester - who should be available at a decent price, given his failure to settle at West Brom. Chester has a lot in common with Williams, in strengths and weaknesses. Both lack height but both are brave defenders who are excellent at blocks and interceptions. Williams has the edge physically, but Chester is more composed in possession - in fact in many ways he reminds me of Gabbidon. Chester seems to be too quiet to take on Williams' leadership mantle, but he has too much quality to ignore, and would challenge Amat for a starting berth, as well as providing extra cover at right back. He also satisfies the home-grown ruling limits which Swansea are coming up against for the first time.
Many Swansea fans don't seem to fancy him - but I'm guessing this is the typical Welsh inferiority complex at work. I'd take him before all the other names mentioned.
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Post by jbt95 on Aug 10, 2016 14:03:30 GMT
Swansea have rarely, if ever, played hard-ball with want-away players. That may mean they get smaller transfer fees as a result - but it benefits the club in the long-run, in that it helps to attract the likes of Ayew, who see Swansea as a stepping stone to "greater" things. £12 million is a decent fee for a player who's best days lie behind him, and is unlikely to command a better fee down the line. So comparisons with the likes of Stones - who is only 22 and has his future in front of him - are meaningless. Swansea have done well to hang on to Williams for as long as they have (he nearly left in January - which could well have resulted in Swansea's relegation), so though I'm sad to see him go, the writing was on the wall. Replacing his leadership abilities will be the biggest challenge, and there's no obvious strong alternative. Siggurdsson is likely to get the nod, but more for his example than any obvious leadership credentials. I hope Swansea go in for Chester - who should be available at a decent price, given his failure to settle at West Brom. Chester has a lot in common with Williams, in strengths and weaknesses. Both lack height but both are brave defenders who are excellent at blocks and interceptions. Williams has the edge physically, but Chester is more composed in possession - in fact in many ways he reminds me of Gabbidon. Chester seems to be too quiet to take on Williams' leadership mantle, but he has too much quality to ignore, and would challenge Amat for a starting berth, as well as providing extra cover at right back. He also satisfies the home-grown ruling limits which Swansea are coming up against for the first time. Many Swansea fans don't seem to fancy him - but I'm guessing this is the typical Welsh inferiority complex at work. I'd take him before all the other names mentioned. I can't see the Swans signing another CB in all honesty, van der Hoorn has come in, Fernandez and Amat with Rodon to come up if we need a fourth for the bench incase of an injury probably. Sky were saying there is no interest in Chester. I was hoping we'd have a line up including Williams, Taylor, Chester, Allen & HRK this season, looks like it will just be Neil now.  |
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