Swansea City Need to Rediscover Their Identity

Swansea were something of an enigma when they first got promoted. Everyone's second favourite team. The passing was fluent and the tempo was high, the cries of Swansalona didn't take long to appear.

So fast forward a few years and it's almost the complete opposite in every way. The passing feels forced and there's no neat build up by letting the ball do the work. The accuracy and composure is way off what's needed especially at the top level.

As a Swansea fan I don't mind losing when your opponent has more quality than you it can't be helped. We're almost beating ourself in the opening three games. Many fans on social media are worried and some are relaxed. It may only be a few games but warning signs are there.

Against Burnley it was unimpressive but just having a little bit more to get over the line. Against Hull it was average again. Possession without creating serious pressure. Better sides attack wave after wave and turn it into points.

Leicester's score actually flattered the Swans, had that Mahrez penalty gone in then it's 3-0 and another battering again. We haven't learnt our lessons from last season.

Back to my original point, we have always built from the back but without Ashley Williams there's no composure back there. Both centre halves are error prone and don't have the distribution needed. There needs to be a calmness which hopefully new recruit Alfie Mawson can bring.

I don't want to get into the mess that was the transfer window and the situation involving Huw Jenkins and the new owners. Clearly something has to change immediately and I think it will. Three poor transfer windows isn't good enough and could cost another manager his job.

Under Francesco Guidolin it seems to be that we are heading further away from our style. It's more defensive and grit and relying on individuals rather than the team ethic it's been built on. The best football was played under Brendan Rodgers and then Michael Laudrup.

Garry Monk and Guidolin have steered the Swans away from their free flowing football and implemented a steely defence but it's not worked out that way. A few games have been won by the odd goal but many have been conceded and not much heading the attacking end.

I didn't want the Italian as a manager when he took over in January but he did what was asked and kept the Swans up, In my opinion there were just as many bad performances in his time than good ones. The inconsistencies were apparent.

He deserved his chance to have a fair crack at a full season in the Premier League, I didn't want it but can't really argue that he didn't deserve it. He's not really getting the best out of many players. You can say he's very limited by what he has but there is isn't a fluency to his teams and it's almost awkward to watch.

I don't think he will last the full season, as I mentioned he's not been helped by recruitment and the next 6 fixtures are daunting. You can imagine confidence will be low after that even with a few points on the board.

There needs to be a new era at the Liberty Stadium, Recruitment needs to be elevated and the playing squad needs serious investment. This season will be even tougher than last year because of the mistakes made time and time again. If they DO manage to stay up then it has to be a clean slate next season.

Thanks for Reading, See you in the next one.

Daniel