It’s that time again for another T.A.W.E Blog as we look back at the main events this week. We said a farewell to two club legends, a number of players have been linked with moves elsewhere already and it’s confirmed that Carlos Carvalhal won’t be kept on next season.
Season ends in defeat
Again, like last week, let’s get the match re-cap over and done with. I’ll actually be glad that I won’t have to feature a match re-cap in these blogs anymore during the Summer. The season ended in a defeat at home against another side who had also already sealed their fate – Stoke City. Two awful sides went head to head and the fact that both sets of fans took the piss out of each other and saw the funny side of the whole thing summed it up really.
Carvalhal reverted to a back-4 system, typical. We waited for so long and he finally does it when we’re already relegated. In his final match, Angel Rangel started at right back while retiree Leon Britton came on around the hour mark has both bid a farewell to the Liberty crowd for the final time.
Rangel has been linked with a move to D.C United which is also part-owned by our current American owners – but that’s according to the Sun so we can probably rule that one out. Leon Britton takes up an ambassador role at the club alongside Lee Trundle. It’s believed that Leon isn’t interested yet in a coaching role at the club.
So that’s our Premier League spell over, 7 seasons, it’s not been a bad run at all, we can’t deny that, but then again it’s fair to say that it could have been managed a lot better these last few years, and we were capable of sticking around a little while longer.
Anyway, here’s our Premier League record:
#Swans Premier League record:
Seasons: 7
Games: 266
Won: 82, Drawn: 66, Lost: 118
Goals: For: 306, Against: 383
Average points per season: 44.6
Average position: 12th pic.twitter.com/UbP4JHH7QF— Vital Swansea (@VitalSwansea) May 15, 2018
It was also a game that was watched in the stands by former coach Gabriele Ambrosetti, who worked with former boss Francesco Guidolin. It’s not the first time that he’s been back at the Liberty, Guidolin has also been back since which shows the class of the pair considering the way that they were sacked ahead of Bob Bradley’s swift arrival.
Class again from Gabriele Ambrosetti. Sacked in the manner they were, many would never return, but he and Guidolin have both since been back at the Liberty. #OnceAJackAlwaysAJack https://t.co/D8kPFYilTW
— Vital Swansea (@VitalSwansea) May 14, 2018
A Mass Exodus This Summer?!
Already a host of players have been linked with moves elsewhere, even some of those who have barely featured in the first team this season. Some of those players include Oli McBurnie (Leeds & Rangers), Kyle Bartley (Leeds), Alfie Mawson and Lucasz Fabianski (Newcastle, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Watford). Roque Mesa and Jordi Amat could also stay in Spain after loan spells, Ki leaves on a free after his contract expired and you’d also expect to see the likes of Andre Ayew and Federico Fernandez to clinch Summer moves too.
Keep track of all the latest transfers gossip and rumours in our Message Forum thread here
Carlos Carvalhal leaves Swansea City
Carlos Carvalhal’s expected departure from the Swans was confirmed at lunchtime on Friday, after being spotted leaving the city centre the day before (see below) – adding to the speculation around his future.
Read more about his departure here
https://twitter.com/dylanthegreek/status/997127912754241536
Carvalhal started so well but his form dropped so much that his final 11 League matches was a worse run of form than Bob Bradley’s run of 11 games, picking up 2 fewer points than the American and one less win.
Carlos Carvalhal's last 11 games vs Bob Bradley's 11 games.
Carvalhal failed to mention this stat then? Like @maxwellhicks said, sack-worthy form. pic.twitter.com/FY68vFhq1c
— Vital Swansea (@VitalSwansea) May 14, 2018
Is Graham Potter the man to get us back on track?
Along with former Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer, Ostersunds boss Graham Potter is the current favourite to take over at the Liberty Stadium.
We welcomed Josh Kilmister to the writing team at Vital Swansea and you can read his featured article here on a man who’s taken a Swedish side from the bottom to the top division, beating Arsenal in the Europa League along the way.
Who do you want as our new manager? Let us know in the forum or leave a comment at the bottom.
"Really it was trying to get the players to enjoy their football because ultimately if they’re not enjoying their football, then it’s hard for that to transmit to the supporters." – Graham Potter
Is Potter the right man to bring back the Swansea Way?https://t.co/ffdEIlFxU0
— Vital Swansea (@VitalSwansea) May 14, 2018
Swans To Sign Liverpool Youngster?
Swansea City are reportedly close to signing Liverpool’s 19 year-old attacking midfielder Yan Dhanda. This was reported on May 15th but we’re still yet to hear it confirmed.
Some fans already criticising the signing of Liverpool youngster Dhanda. He's highly rated and some of their fans are gutted he's leaving.
— Vital Swansea (@VitalSwansea) May 15, 2018
More Stats & Analysis Articles Coming This Summer
Over the Summer we are looking to do a number of stats and analysis articles, as analytics and in depth stats becomes more and more involved and popular in the modern game. This is relied upon more than ever to assess performance as well as the opposition.
Expected goals (xG) is just one of many metrics that is growing in popularity, so much so now that the likes of BBC Sport’s Match of the Day and Sky Sports are using it as part of their football coverage. Expected goals helps to assess performance by measuring the quality of chances during a game to give a better idea of how each team performed. One example would be our home game this season against Liverpool when we won 1-0. xG would suggest that Liverpool really should have won comfortably, reflecting the true story of the game, but as we know with football, clear cut chances sometimes aren’t taken and/or goalkeepers play like heroes.
There’s all sorts of other metrics to help assess performance, from chances quality by individual player, as well as defensive pressure. How well do we commit to a high press and how has this changed over the last few seasons? It’s something that we can look at in detail game per game too.
We are looking for ideas and requests from fans who are interested in football stats and analysis. If you have any ideas for us then let us know on Twitter or leave us an article comment below.
Will be looking to do a load of stats/analytics articles over the Summer, wondered what you all thought of this stuff?
Things like xG, Buildup play, quality of chances created and defensive pressure to name a few.
— Vital Swansea (@VitalSwansea) May 14, 2018
