Boo-boy target to central role
MANY Swansea fans have complained for years that Kyle Naughton doesn’t get enough credit, but with the veteran defender playing an unexpected starring role, that may no longer be true.
Naughton has always been a very versatile player. He has regularly switched from right-back to left-back throughout his career. He even played several games in central midfield under Graham Potter and did surprisingly well there.
But at the age of 33 he may have finally found the position he was born to play.
Early in the season, Russell Martin took the bold move of placing Naughton smack bang in the middle of a back three and that’s where he has stayed ever since.
It raised a few eyebrows at the time, but Naughton has settled into the role very impressively.
This position is usually reserved for the biggest, nastiest defender, possibly the one who would struggle most for pace if dragged into wider areas or the one best-placed to win headers against an imposing opposition striker.
Naughton, who must be one of the division’s shortest centre-backs at exactly 6ft, doesn’t exactly fit this stereotype. Nevertheless he has excelled in the role and has by now established himself as a key player in Martin’s system.
He is currently on a run of 14 consecutive league starts. If he gets another one today against Reading, it will be his longest starting streak since the Swans were relegated from the Premier League.
Only four Swansea players have played more minutes than Naughton this season, showing how important he has become.
He has kept his place in the side because, against all odds, he has made this position his own.
In the ultra-physical world of Championship football, one would expect a centre-back of Naughton’s stature to be bullied by bigger strikers, but he has generally done pretty well against the more brutish forwards. Even during the South Wales derby, playing against one of the most direct sides in the division, he won all of his aerial duels and made more headers than any other player.
He’s stood up well against the big boys, but his pace means he’s also well-equipped to deal with balls in behind and more intricate play from the opposition.
Naughton has made more interceptions than any other Swansea player this season, showing how well he reads the game. His maturity also gives him an edge in his decisionmaking. Naughton’s composure means his judgement is usually spot on, which may explain why he has only committed four fouls all season.
And, of course, a big advantage of having a former full-back in the middle of the defence is that he’s extremely comfortable playing out from the back, which is essential in this side.
Swansea could have the world’s best defender on their books, but if his feet weren’t up to scratch, it’s unlikely he would make the bench under Russell Martin.
The manager needed somebody in the heart of defence who could dictate the Swans’ passing game and that’s exactly what he got with Naughton.
The former Spurs man is at the centre of it all, sitting in a position where he is always available for a pass and always looking for options in front of him.
Across the entire Championship, only Matt Grimes and Fulham’s Tim Ream have made more passes than Naughton this season and of all the players who have made more than 10 starts this campaign, he has the best pass completion rate in the division.
Against Barnsley on Wednesday night we saw why a player like Naughton is so important in this system.
You always need somebody at the heart of defence who is safe in possession, even when the opposition is trying to press, in order to play out from the back. Naughton always offered an option for his team-mates and kept the ball moving at all times. Most of his passes didn’t appear too complicated, but it makes such a difference to have a player in that position who can be trusted with the ball at his feet. The final stats were astonishing. Naughton completed 162 passes at Oakwell. To put this in context, the entire Barnsley team managed just 153.
We have seen in previous games this season that Naughton isn’t just there to play the easy passes. He’s also happy to run with the ball and advance into the opposition half against teams who don’t press intensely.
Naughton’s time with Swansea has not always been rosy. While in the Premier League he never truly convinced fans and would struggle for form at times.
He is one of the last remnants from that relegated side of 2018, but since falling into the Championship he has established himself as an elder statesman in the camp. Fans have grown to appreciate his reliability at this level and it is often said that he is an unsung hero for the Swans.
That may have been true before, but by now there is no doubt that Naughton’s contribution is being fully recognised.
Martin spotted a perfect role for Naughton which makes the most of his defensive skills, his good feet and his mature wisdom. It seems to suit both Naughton and Swansea perfectly.
The man who was once a target of the boo boys is now a key figure in the Russell Revolution.