Swansea City head coach Francesco Guidolin gave us fans something we’ve been waiting for for months, an explanation as to why winger Jefferson Montero hasn’t kicked a competitive ball since he arrived at the club.
The two main reasons the Italian gave were – that he’s simply not ready – in his opinion – and secondly, that his defensive side of his game needs improving. Something we’ve been saying for months.
Montero and Taylor down the left not effective for me. Don’t work well together and the winger doesn’t help out in defence.
? Vital Swansea City (@VitalSwansea) March 5, 2016
probably won’t have time to do an article on it now, but screenshot shows Montero’s lack of tracking back 1/2 pic.twitter.com/RzJvCtMkHi
? Vital Swansea City (@VitalSwansea) December 27, 2015
The Ecuadorian international, who has been playing for his country in recent World Cup qualifiers, offers nothing to the team when they’re not in possession, and his link-up play with his team-mates is also hit and miss. His strengths are his pace and running at oppositions defenders all by himself. You could say that he plays too much as an individual, though you could argue that his pace and ability to beat defenders makes up for his weaknesses.
But Guidolin wouldn’t agree though, and another problem he admits is the fact that Montero’s style of play – as an out and out winger – doesn’t suit the preference to playing a diamond in midfield.
‘I do not know Jeff very well ? I haven’t had time to understand all the characteristics of my players yet ? but he is a good player,’
‘He has quality ? his most important quality (pace) is one that we want.
‘I think he is an important player, but he has to improve his play with other players, for example when we haven’t got the ball.
‘He isn’t ready in my opinion ? but his qualities are important.
‘Week by week, I hope to have the possibility to see him.
‘Modou (Barrow) is improving. I hope Jeff will do the same. As a manager I have seen some qualities and characteristics which are important, but he also has to improve.’
Also explaining why he continued with the diamond when he took over from Alan Curtis – who Guidolin now works closely with as his first team coach – the Italian said that it is what the team had been used to leading up to his appointment. Curtis himself had also admitted that the players themselves are ‘more comfortable’ playing in a diamond. They’re definitely more defensively solid, but their ability to create chances and score goals is an issue. A 4-2-3-1 with Montero in the team has the opposite effect, a leaky defence but is more productive in an attacking sense.
‘My opinion is that I had to make choices when I arrived, when the team were used to playing with a diamond in midfield,’
‘With the diamond, for Montero and Modou it’s difficult. They are two wingers.
‘But now I can have another vision ? another shape for example.
‘It could be that there are more possibilities for Montero or for Modou. I think they are both important players.’
Guidolin says that there could be possibilities of using a different shape that could suit the likes of Montero and Barrow. Some fans on twitter are hoping that Guidolin becomes more experimental with his team and delivers some better performances as they begin to move closer to safety.
@VitalSwansea and now that Swansea are safe, I want Guidolin to impose his tactics and formations. 3-1-4-1-1. Boom. Suck it, premier league
? Brian Mannebach (@BrianManny) March 29, 2016
Do you agree with Guidolin’s comments on Montero? Should he be in the team and should he look to switch systems to get the best out of the winger? What about switching to a 3-defender formation like a 3-4-1-1? Share your comments below in the article comments…
