Does Curtis See Tabanou As a Potential Left Winger?

Alan Curtis sounded excited by the potential of Frank Tabanou, and even hinted that he could fit both Tabanou and Taylor in the same team.

The left sided Frenchman has barely featured all season, only appearing in Cup games as Monk had even refused to name him amongst the substitutes, which forced the player to speak out publicly of his frustration at the Swans following his move last Summer from Saint Etienne.

He was expected to come in and offer good competition to Neil Taylor for the left back spot, but he wasn’t given a chance to when Monk was still manager.

But his recently said that his situation at the club could improve following a change of manager, and Curtis could now give him a new lease of life as he looks set to be included in Sunday’s team to face Oxford United in the FA Cup third round.

‘I have been watching video clips I’ve of him. I actually sat him down the other day and said: ‘Franck, who is that man?’.

‘He is going past people, beating two or three players and smashing it in from 30 yards, taking free-kicks, penalties. I haven’t seen that fella before.

‘We haven’t utilised him for whatever reason, maybe because of the form of Neil Taylor.

‘But maybe they can both play in the same team. We have always thought of Franck as a full-back but we could play him further on.

‘He was bought as a left-back but Tayls’ form has meant he has not had the games. But you look at the clips and he could be anything.’

Former boss Garry Monk hit out at Tabanou’s outburst, criticising his lack of fitness as one of the main reasons for his lack of game time.

But Curtis now says that the player is fully up to speed and will play in Sunday’s Cup game. He also believes that he could effectively be like a new signing for the club.

‘Franck is a hefty guy, that’s his build, but he has done all the fitness work and worked really hard in the last couple of weeks’

‘He needs games and will play at Oxford, and he could be virtually a new signing for us.

‘Mentally he feels invigorated and feels he has got a chance and that’s probably the same with a few of them. I am not knocking anything that went on before, but sometimes it works that way.

‘He could play a huge part and we hope he will do. He’s certainly got the ability.’

Could Tabanou develop in a first team starter and play in front of Taylor as an attacking winger? His defensive ability was questioned when he first signed back in the Summer, with reports suggesting that he’s mainly an attacking winger that lacks the defensive side to being a full back.

But like Curtis says, we’ve seen videos on Youtube of what he can do with his left foot, long range shooting and set pieces – qualities that the squad really need going into the second half of the season.

With Montero out of form, is Tabanou is alternative option in that position?