The Premier League title is going to Manchester this year, it will be the sides from London competing for Champions League places and The FA Cup will be won from a side from Mersey or the capital. And yet, none of these sides receive the award for Team of the Season. That award goes to a side not even in England.
In 2002 Swansea City were in Division Three, finishing the season in 20th position. Swansea’s rise to the top the league has been nothing short of miraculous. If you had said to a Swans fan then that in ten years time you will be in the Premier League then I am sure you would have been met with some interesting stares.
Kenny Jackett achieved promotion with a 3rd place finish in 2005 and would almost achieve promotion again the following season, yet missed out in the play off final. In February 2007 the player Roberto Martinez replaced Jackett as the new manager, the player whose 139 appearances helped move the club away from potential non-league football. In the 2007-08 season Swansea did achieve their goal, winning the league with a tally of 92 points, the style of football receiving rave reviews from the fans and media, impressed that a lower league side got the ball down and passed the ball. In 08-09 Martinez’s style of passing football achieved an 8th place finish. He had a clear vision of how to play and worked with Kevin Reeves, who was chief scout, to bring the right players to the club. His performances had caught the eye of some Premier League sides and it was Wigan who came calling, in June 09 Martinez left the Liberty stadium. What would the future hold? A new manager to change the style which had proven so successful?
It was Paulo Sousa who was brought in, with such an illustrious playing career he had struggled with the crazy management of QPR. The role at Swansea gave him stability and he continued the sides style through Martinez’s Spanish philosophy. He missed out on the playoffs with a 7th placed finish and again, Swansea lost their man, Sousa was attracted to Leicester who offered him an attractive transfer kitty.
Brendan Rogers was the man deemed a suitable replacement. The club were looking for an ambitious man to take the club to the next level. It would prove to be a great decision for both. Rogers was the Academy manager of Reading for almost ten years until a position opened up at Chelsea, managed by Jose Mourinho, who wished to bring in a quality coach to work with the youth team. Rogers couldn’t resist the offer and opportunity to work with Mourinho and he worked at Chelsea with the youth and reserves from 2006 – 2008.
He felt that he wanted a crack at management himself and took the job at Watford in the autumn of 2008, however his head was turned in June 2009 with the offer of managing Reading. Unfortunately this was not the right time for the club to implement Rogers new tactics new style; coming off relegation from the Premier League and then failing in the play offs to get back up, this side was Coppell's and Rogers did not have the time to change thing. Rogers was clearly a good manager, yet the fit wasn’t right and the club and himself decided to part ways in December 2009.
Promotion, achieving the unbelievable
In Rogers first season at Swansea his side played arguably the best football in the Championship, with their pass and move style and killer instinct scoring 67 goals in the campaign and defensive solidity conceding just 42. They were promoted to the Premier League through the play-offs at the expense of Rogers old side Reading ,in what was one of the best finals in recent memory.
His transfer proved succesful; Scott Sinclair was an inspired transfer signing, being surplus to requirements at Chelsea, he reignited his partnership with Rogers from his youth team days at Chelsea, signing for only £500k. His 19 goals helped Swansea to thier 3rd place finish. And it wasn’t just in attack that the team performed so well, they kept 22 clean sheets in the season, showing the impressive organisation of the defence.
Their mental strength was also shown, of the 30 times they led last season, they went on to win 24 of those games, losing only 3. This shows a great ability to retain leads, with his style of possession football, a winning lead becomes much easier to hold on to when you possess the ball.
The top flight
The Swansea side this season have played some excellent football, balancing attacking play with solid defending underpinned with an emphasis on possession, the style that has been the hallmark of Swansea since Martinez took over in 2007.
What it shows is that with the right mentality, the right staff and the right personnel with the patience of the board and fans, great things can be achieved. Every manager has their own style and philosophy of how to play the game. There is no right way. What there is though is success, and styles which are conducive to success become popular and are replicated. The Barcelona style has ignited a wave of adoration and has led to a new generation of coaches who wish to play a certain way. Some sides have struggled to impose their style, ironically Wigan, under Martinez have failed to progress further in the Premier League and although their style is commendable, they are failing.
So why is Swansea doing so well?
The style of play involves high-intensity pressing when defending and thus when possession is won back the side then looks to preserve their energy by keeping possession. A lot of analysis has been given to the style of Swansea this season, it is commendable because the difference in how they play to other sides is that they are patient in their build up and their attack. The culture of England has been high intensity attacking football, lacking real quality yet playing the percentage game. United and Liverpool are famous for their style of football, Clough instilled good football with his Forest side and Arsenal attempted to change the culture of English football and through their new style it brought success. So it is puzzling as to why certain sides will choose to play a style of football which allows possession to be given away needlessly, bringing in average players who have more value in their physicality than in their technical skill.
We are told that British players are not good enough for top level football. However, this side is predominantly British, with English and Welsh players making up the core of the side. As with any side, they scout and recruit players who have the required attributes to deal with the style of play they wish to play, if an English or Welsh player is capable of doing what is required to play their way, then they bring him in. Too many sides in the Premier League put too much on physicality and not enough on talent, thus no wonder these particular teams style is not attractive and often leaves them towards the bottom of the league. Swansea's tactic means it is a necessity to be able to receive the ball under pressure, be confident with the ball, pass effectively and support the ball at all times. Of the 24 players that have made Premier League appearances this season, 17 are British.
They have shown it is not important to always have “experienced” players, those who have played in the league before, who are battle hardened to relegation battles. Clearly, if a player has spent most of his career experiencing relegation battles, then what does that say about the player? It is the same with managers, those who know relegation battles on a season to season basis perhaps just aren’t that good enough for that league? Of the team that beat Manchester City recently, six had never played at the top level of football in any country.
At the start of the season Swansea had the task of travelling to the Eithad to face the mighty force of Manchester City. For 60 minutes they performed so well, new signing Vorm pulling off great saves and the team were playing some excellent football. Yet, they were caught out by the brilliance of Aguero and lost 4-0. Many were saying how this style of football would cost Swansea, already touted as relegation favourites.
And this season Swansea currently sit in 10th with 39 points. Scoring 34 goals so far. Danny Graham, who performed so well for Watford last season, was bought for £3.5 million and has taken to the Premier League with ease, scoring 10 goals so far, top scorer from last year Sinclair has found the net 7 times. New loan signing Gylfi Sigurðsson has found the net five times already. Nathan Dyer has improved as the season has gone on and has three goals and three assists. Wayne Routledge tops the assists chart with six, followed by Mark Gower with five and Sinclair with four.
It also requires a goalkeeper who can play like an outfielder. A top level keeper uses their feet 70% of the time in the game, so it is essential they are comfortable with the ball, can play out effectively and start attacks. Look at Valdes and De Gea, they are so important to the attacks of their teams as much as their defence. Michel Vorm has been a revelation for the side this season, bought more for his feet than hands, he has proven up to the task and the results show it; Swansea have conceded only 13 goals at home all season. Rodgers stated: "We needed one that was going to suit our style and Michel was one that was on our list. For how we play, we like to build the game from behind, it is vital that the goalkeeper is comfortable with his feet. He is very quick and very agile so he is similar to Victor Valdes at Barcelona." He has been an excellent buy at just £1.5 million.
It would be naïve to assume that Swansea have simply been successful through passing football, it is their defence should also be heralded. Previous so-called lesser teams have been praised for 'playing the right way', Ian Holloway's Blackpool and Mowbry's West Brom yet these sides like the defensive toughness, organisation and solidity to achieve Premier League survival.
The Barcelona of Wales
The real story comes in midfield, with the trio of Joe Allen, Leon Britton and Mark Gower who have controlled the midfield and outplayed teams like Arsenal and Man City. They have controlled the tempo of games, keeping the ball with ease against sides like Arsenal and City.
Britton was an Arsenal youth product, trained at the Lilleshall Development School, he moved to West Ham for £400k at 16 yet struggled to make an impact. Moving to Swansea in 2002 he played almost 300 games for the Swans before deciding on a move to Sheffiels yet did not enjoy the experience and ended up returning to Swansea for around £400k. Now 29, he has blossomed into a very influential figure for Swansea, whisper it quietly, his influence on the side can be compared to that of Xavi at Barca. Mid way through the season Leon Britton had a better passing success rate than Xavi, at 93.3%. This is quite remarkable for a newly promoted side. And surely a surprise that an English player outside of the top four has the capability to keep possession so effectively.Joe Allen, at only 22 came through the Swansea youth set up and has progressed through the national sides to cap Wales 7 times. He has been as good excellent for Swansea also, dictating the game with Britton, with these players, Rogers has been able to implement his tactic with excellent efficiency.
Rogers also has an eye on the future for Swansea, he wants to improve the facilities at the club to help develop young players like Joe Allen. He knows a lot about developing and working with young players and understands the value of sustainability and development. The side need to improve the training facilities and instil an Academy good enough to develop more players for the senior side.
Rogers knows youth development and knows the length of time required to develop players; "The nuts and bolts when it comes to young players is about developing and a football vision. Giving them a style of football and a philosophy that we have here, as well as the opportunity.
How long can it last?
Rogers tactics reflect the style of football played by Michels, Saachi and now Barcelona. High praise for sure. Do Swansea possess the same quality of these sides? Of course not. Yet Rogers has attempted to instil the same philosophy and he has done this because he has convinced his side to play this way. The key to any great manager and thus great team is to convince. His tactic requires significant discipline and belief, the players must believe in their manager and continue to believe even when results don’t go well.
It takes bravery to believe that an ethos of football will work at a significantly higher level, and it took guts to stick with this after an opening weekend hammering at Manchester City. And it takes something close to managerial greatness to improve the performance of 30 players within a system that requires technical expertise and a true dedication to fitness through sheer belief in his philosophy.
Rogers has been able to bring together a group of players and has made them better; Sinclair appeared to be a player who was lost and whose potential may not be reached, Nathan Dyer has improved no end and Danny Graham, although successful in the Championship has stepped up to the next level with relative ease, especially compared to others who dominated leagues of lesser quality without being able to step up to the next level.
Rogers has been able to bring together a group of players and has made them better; Sinclair appeared to be a player who was lost and whose potential may not be reached, Nathan Dyer has improved no end and Danny Graham, although successful in the Championship has stepped up to the next level with relative ease, especially compared to others who dominated leagues of lesser quality without being able to step up to the next level.
Next season may prove to be a tougher challenge for this Swansea side. As with many newly promoted sides, teams struggle with new styles, players and tactics. Yet managers and sides learn and are more prepared the following season. This has been a great achievement for this small side from Wales. Their manager; trusting in his players and his philosophy has given fans entertaining football and has received many plaudits for his teams performances. His players have received many accolades for their belief and quality and the only problem with good performances is that other sides become interested. Can Swansea keep hold of their manager, of their top players and if they do, can they maintain their style and importantly place in the top league.
Brendan Rodgers's stock has soared on the back of the progress his team have made this season, while a whole host of his players have shone at the highest level and talk this week was him being top the list for the possible position of Spurs. A big issue for Swansea will be finances, for the club's board of directors simply will not match some of the massive wages on offer elsewhere in the top division and they have players and a manager who perhaps are capable of doing more at a bigger club.Although Roberto Martinez should be viewed as the innovator of this brand of total football, it is impossible to overestimate the input of Brendan Rodgers. He has taken this side to another level, he has deserved the plaudits and acclaim that have his sides way. What does the future hold for the manager and players? If they could stay together, could they go further? Or will the manager go to the next level, he has learnt from the best in the "Special One" of course, and perhaps Rogers career starts here. Whatever happens next season, this year has certainly warranted Swansea the team of the year award.
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