Swansea are playing with a chip on their shoulder at the moment, and it’s glorious to watch. This, as we said last week, is their response to the suggestions that Brendan Rodgers’ departure would let the air out of the side’s momentum. Struggle? No, the game with West Ham perfectly illustrated the gulf between them and the sides who are actually likely to flirt with relegation this season.
After the game against QPR, we lavished praise on Wayne Routledge for his contribution – today, it’s Nathan Dyer’s turn. Many years ago, I remember watching a program on television about Southampton’s Academy and seeing a teenage Dyer shredding defences from rival youth set-ups – he looked a player then, and he looks even more of one now that he’s living up to his potential. In the last twelve months, there’s been a steady improvement in his economy with the ball and his decision-making; blended with his more tangible attributes, that adds up to a hell of a winger. Not to be premature, but if Stewart Downing routinely gets included in the England squad, then…
Michu’s goal came courtesy of very clever little finish. It’s one thing to read an error off a defender, it’s another to have the composure to capitalise on it. Not to labour a point made time-after-time on this site, but he’s an outrageous bargain for £2m. Clever player.
The ceiling for this side, under Michael Laudrup’s management, is very high – and the addition of Ki Sung-Yeung will give them a little more backbone for their trips to the bigger grounds in the country. There’s no difficult second season happening here, just a side growing in experience and adding some very astute purchases along the way.
Two games into the season is obviously not the point to make conclusions, but Swansea look to have more purpose in their football this year. Under Rodgers they were aesthetically pleasing, and the standard of football was very high – but the level of penetration and urgency wasn’t always what it could have been. Not so now, they look dangerous every time they come forward – whether thats an intentional change in philosophy from Laudrup time will tell, but his side look to carry far more potency under the Dane.
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