OBAFEMI URGED TO RAISE STANDARDS
RUSSELL Martin has urged Michael Obafemi to improve his off-the-field professionalism after leaving the striker out of Swansea City’s squad for their Championship clash with Bournemouth.
Obafemi – who joined Swansea from Southampton on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window – was omitted from the matchday 18 as Swansea lost 4-0 to the Cherries at The Vitality Stadium.
It means the forward has featured just seven times in all competitions so far this term following his move from the South Coast to South Wales.
And Martin has stated that the 21-year-old will be given the club’s full support as they bid to unlock his potential after a stuttering start to his Swansea career.
“Michael understands why he’s not in the squad, he agrees that he shouldn’t be in the squad, it’s nothing major,” said the head coach.
“We’re here to try to improve players.
“It’s such a strong group culturally. We spend a lot of time talking and he understands he needs to be better in a few aspects to become the player he wants to become and to become the person he wants to become.
“We have to really try to help him to get there.
“Too often in football, you’re expected to sign someone, a young man on a good contract then just play football, it’s not the case.
“He needs more support from us, he’ll get it and he’ll become the player we think he can be and he wants to be.
“But there are certain things you have to make sure you do to be in the squad.
“You’ve got guys like Jay Fulton at home training so hard, Rhys Williams, Brandon Cooper. You have to behave every day like what you are, a professional footballer.
“He’s done nothing major, but there’s stuff we need to help him with.
“He’s disappointed. I’m disappointed he’s not here, but performance doesn’t come before culture, it’s the other way around.
“He’ll get there and I’m sure he’ll be back involved soon.
“It’s just a few disciplinary things in terms of the way we train, timekeeping and it does matter, unfortunately.
“If it was Joel Piroe doing the same, even though he’s our top goalscorer, it’d be the same consequence.
“That’s where we’re at. He understands and he respects it.
“He will be better for it because he’s a really brilliant lad who hasn’t been shown enough care or love for a while because of the position he’s been in.”
Dominic Solanke and Jaidon Anthony both notched up braces to earn league leaders Bournemouth an emphatic win over Swansea.
Defeat leaves Swansea in 12th place in the table ahead of what is the final international break of the year.
And Martin could not hide his disappointment with his side’s defending after what was an impressive start from the visitors at Bournemouth.
“I thought we started the game brilliantly, one of the best 25-minute periods since I have been here,” he said.
“We are disappointed we did not score when we were on top, we had some good situations we did not make the most of.
“Ethan (Laird) is fouled in the box, but the official did not think it was enough contact to give a penalty, and they score against the run of play – a goal which was marginally offside – which energised them a bit.
“The game got a bit messy towards the end of the first half, which I think suited them more than us, but they did not create much and neither did we.
“So at half-time it was about trying to weather the storm and having that energy in the first 15 minutes and we didn’t do that.
“They scored with a moment of sloppiness from us, and the difference was they were really ruthless and clinical.
“We cannot concede so early after half-time when we had spoken about it.
“We tried to remain the side we want to be, but it is another moment of sloppiness for the third goal, and it’s the same for the fourth goal.
“By that point the game was open and we were chasing it a bit, but we needed to make better decisions.
“But we know we have a lot to work on, a lot to improve on, so I won’t get too angry or disappointed.
“But I am hurt for it to be 4-0 because I didn’t think the guys deserved that.”
Swansea return to action against Blackpool on Saturday, November 20.
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